Ian Marshall, Editor of Table Tennis Illustrated
Super Mario, A Man of Integrity

Photo by: Rémy Gros
Malta’s Mario GENOVESE is one of the most experienced international players on duty at the Volkswagen 48th World Table Tennis Championships. He first played for the small Mediterranean island when sixteen years old in an African invitation tournament in Libya; born in the island’s capital, Valetta, he now lives in the town of Attard, and at the age of forty-three is on duty in Shanghai for the country that he has represented so well for almost thirty years.

Mario GENOVESE, Malta's National Champion
Playing at international level for such a long time is something that few can match and during that time he has played some of the world’s great stars. “Desmond DOUGLAS, Ulf CARLSSON and CAI Xenhua come immediately to mind”, said GENOVESE. “As for the World Championships, well perhaps my best year was in 1985 when I reached the first round of the main draw and lost to Stefan KOVAC, now of Slovenia but perhaps the most satisfying match in my career was leading two games to nil against Olivier MARMUREK at the Mediterranean Top Twelve in 1992, eventually I lost but I think it was one of my best ever performances.”

Changes
In the 1980’s GENOVESE left the shores of Malta, somewhat to his mother’s concern, as he is an only child, to further his table tennis career in Europe, “I played in Norway for one year in 1980 and in England in 1981 and 1985” he explained. “Also, in 1981 I had one year in Sweden and spent three years in Denmark from 1982 to 1984.

Leaving the island in order to improve his playing standard was the only option open to GENOVESE. However, table tennis is now changing in Malta, an association that has long been guided by the very amiable Joe-Borg CARDONA who has exciting plans for the future. “Table tennis is very popular on the island but in the past it’s been very much as a hobby not as a serious sport”, continued GENOVESE.

I know when I’ve visited the island I’ve been quite amazed by the number of houses that have table tennis tables in the garage or in the basement, no heating is necessary it’s always warm enough in Malta. However as GENOVESE explained the future looks bright. “I started to play in the Salesias Youth Centre in Sliema when I was eleven”, he said. “However, now we have a Table Tennis Academy in Valetta, Joe BORG CARDONA is making many changes, I’m helping by coaching, it’s quite an exciting time.”

Certainly the future looks bright but any players emerging from the academy will be hard pushed to match the successes of Mario GENOVESE. He has been the island’s leading player for almost three decades; he’s been the National Men’s Singles Champion nineteen times! It is an incredible record.

Caring
However, there is more to Mario GENOVESE than just being a good table tennis player. He is a man who cares for others and he is a superb athlete. GENOVESE wanted to help a hostel in Malta for handicapped children, the Dar Tal Providenza in Siggiewi; the children in this hostel are severely handicapped and sadly, some have been abandoned by their parents.

“They desperately needed funds”, said GENOVESE, his tone of voice showing clearly that he is a very caring person. “”It was 1991 just before the World Championships in Chiba I decided to organise a multi-sports events.”

Now it was some multi-sports event, more a strong man event, a test of willpower and character. The event started on the small idyllic island of Gozo, if my memory serves me right it’s about half an hour on the ferry from Malta; so the first event was swimming, followed by running, then canoeing, cycling and what can only be described as riding a mountain bike up the most inaccessible terrain just for good measure.

Mario GENOVESE aimed to raised US$35,000, in two years he’d raised the equivalent of US$40,000, like his nineteen national titles, an incredible achievement.

Temperature Soars
“I did it three years in a row”, smiled GENOVESE perhaps the tone of his voice suggesting he must have been a somewhat daft to have tried such a venture; the toughest year was in 1992, the temperature on the day was forty-two degrees! I thought the saying was “Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun”. However, there’s nothing mad about GENOVESE, he’s an athlete, a gentleman, grateful for the opportunities he’s been given and furthermore, he cares deeply about those less fortunate than himself.

Not only is he a fine table tennis player, a superb tri-athlete, he has run several marathons; is also very accomplished in the sport of squash, was a member of the yachting team that won the National Championships in 1989, 1990 and 1991 and is a black belt, third degree in the Hsing-I Chuau, a martial art similar to Tai-Chi.

I’m not familiar with martial arts, although many think I should be an expert because of my surname; however, suffice to say that in his chosen discipline GENOVESE is an expert and the lessons learnt have helped with his concentration in the sport of table tennis.

Family Man
GENOVESE owns a chain of boutiques in Malta and is a family man, married to Alexandra he has two daughters Sasha aged six and Therese aged nine; both girls enjoy sports. I suspect they are top class swimmers, I was once told on a visit to Malta that you learn to swim by the age of five or you learn the hard way, as yet I’ve no-one from Malta who learnt the hard way.

However, Therese is a keen gymnast whilst Sasha is the table tennis player; it seems the GENOVESE sporting dynasty is set to continue and no doubt his children will compete with the same integrity as their father, a man who has led by example; his caring, thoughtful nature making him a most popular person and one to whom many owe a debt of gratitude.