Paddling to victory

By day Ulrika Quist is an administration general manager with V.Group’s SeaTec Repairs business based in Monaco. The role takes Ulrika all over the world and she’s never without a paddle when travelling however not the kind you’d expect from someone working in the marine sector. Ulrika’s paddle is for table tennis – a sport she has been perfecting since she was just six years old.

Originally from Sweden Ulrika was ranked third in her class as a youth competitor. She played in the top league for a number of years and even though studying in France, traveled home for matches every weekend. As runner up in the US Open in 1986, Ulrika sadly had to hang up her paddle when she went on board but was quick to pick it back up again when she came ashore in 1999.

Now playing for the ASM Monaco Tennis de Table club, Ulrika together with her team mates has received sponsorship from V.Group’s local Monaco office for club shirts to play in the league events.

Ulrika recently competed in the World Veteran Championships in Alicante – a tournament that runs every two years – with the next one in Las Vegas 2018: “This competition had 4,600 players this year, playing on 168 tables with 70 countries represented. I finished up within the 32 out of more than 200 participating in the category 40-49, losing to a Swedish player who I played against when I was younger. I was proud to be wearing my new V.Group sponsored shirt at this event – it is great promotion of the support I get from the Company to pursue my sport.”

And as Ulrika points out, the sport is very sociable and is a great way to keep fit: “I usually practice on Tuesday nights and a couple of lunchtimes during the week when not travelling. Before the Alicante games I had to be in our V.Ships Glasgow office and the President of the Federation, Terry McLernon who is based in the city, offered to pick me up and takes me to the local club in Drumchapel so I could continue my practice.”