Imagine commentating on a World Championship match you witnessed live as a fan. That’s exactly how Fraser Riley’s table tennis commentary career began. In the latest episode of Time Out, we caught up with Riley at his first table tennis club in Halifax to hear about his incredible journey.
Riley, who honed his skills at Grantham College and the University of Nottingham, always had a passion for table tennis. But he realised early on that his talents lay beyond the table itself. “I was addicted to watching table tennis, I still am” he explains. “And I wasn’t a fantastic a player, I wasn’t a British League A-Teamer. But I thought, ‘the next best thing I can do is be a commentator’”.
He felt the sport needed a fresh voice, someone who could connect with younger audiences. So, he took a chance and emailed the ITTF – a long shot that paid off.
“They got back to me! ‘Send us a file of you commentating and we’ll see what you’ve got’. They sent me the last set of Fan Zhendong vs Ma Long at the 2017 World Championships. And I was actually there! It was the first time I’d watched table tennis live. My Grandpa had got me tickets there as one of my birthday presents! It was crazy that that was the match that I’d commentate over for a chance to become a commentator!”
Riley quickly rose through the ranks, making his top-tier commentary debut at the 2019 World Championships in Budapest. His energetic style and deep knowledge of the game have earned him praise from fans and players alike. German legend Dimitrij Ovtcharov once approached him at a breakfast buffet in Thailand to compliment his commentary. And on a long bus ride, Riley found himself seated next to none other than Hugo Calderano. They spent the next 40 minutes engrossed in conversation, dissecting forehand techniques and the future of the sport.
“He even watched some clips of me playing!” Riley laughs. “Of course, the first thing he said was I need to work on my forehand!”
But rubbing shoulders with the stars hasn’t changed him. Riley has big dreams for the future, including establishing a state-of-the-art, inclusive table tennis facility. “I want to create a beautiful environment where everyone feels welcome, from disabled players to seniors,” he says. “I want it to be inclusive. I want sessions for disabled people, I want sessions for old people. And I want to help create the next line of English champions, potentially even Olympic medallists in the future. Just pass down everything that I’ve learned from watching the pro level for how long I have”. With his infectious enthusiasm, dedication to the sport, and ambitious plans for the future, Fraser Riley is not just a commentator, but a true ambassador for table tennis.
With so much to look forward to, the future looks bright for Fraser Riley. Be sure to watch the full interview on our YouTube page now to hear more from the sport’s biggest voice.
