At six years old, Kef Noorani began playing table tennis with his father at their home in California. It didn’t take long for Kef to sharpen his game—he participated in his first tournament at just eight. Since then, the 13-year-old has competed across the United States and internationally, securing top-place finishes in the U11, U13, and U15 divisions.
He credits his quick rise to his father, saying “he really helped me get into table tennis. He was my first coach and is still always trying to help me get better, whether it’s about basic fundamentals, the mindset, controlling emotions, and many other things.”
Kef represented the US for the first time at the Pan American Championships in 2021, winning both the U11 Boys’ Doubles and Mixed Doubles championship titles. Later that year, he was one of 34 young athletes to receive the 2021 USA Table Tennis All-American Award, which recognized his stellar performance in international competitions over the course of the year.
Since then, Kef has maintained this level of excellence, competing in several championships per year in the boys’ singles, boys’ doubles, and mixed doubles categories. Just last year, he won three gold medals – one in each category – at the 2023 US National Table Tennis Championships, defending his ranking of number one in the nation in the U13 division.
“Even during tough training sessions I think it’s very important to stay motivated,” he said, referencing his preparation leading up to competitions. “I try to do this by remembering I have goals and that everything I do, not whether it’s easy or hard, is for a reason and will pay off in the future.”
More recently, Kef competed in the 2024 US Junior National Team Trials Part 1 in March, claiming second place in the U15 Boys’ Singles category. In the second part of the competition in May, he emerged as the U15 Boys’ Singles Champion. As a result of his outstanding achievements, Kef was named a part of the 2024 National Junior Team, meaning that he can play for the US in his age group at international competitions for the rest of the year.
While he has already accomplished so much in so little time, Kef has bigger dreams of making the US Men’s National Team and someday competing in the Olympics. His determination is a guiding force throughout this journey, as well as for others just starting out.
Kef encourages young players to persevere, telling them “to just always keep focused, to keep getting the ball back on the table and it will pay off later.” His words emphasize the importance of patience in any pursuit, reminding us that success is achieved one step at a time.
