Advisors

Barney Reed

Barney is a renowned World Championship and Olympic coach, known for his expertise and dedication to the sport. He is the founder of the Google Table Tennis Program and the Stickman Skill Center, where he continues to inspire and train the next generation of athletes.

In his latest venture, Barney is now training Google DeepMind's robot, which showcases remarkable agility and skill, capable of rallying with top amateur players. Explore this exciting development here.

Dr. Santosh Prabhu

Dr. Prabhu is a leading neurosurgeon and the Chairman and Chief Neurosurgeon at WIINS Hospital in Kolhapur, Maharashtra. He holds an MBBS, MS, and MCh in Neurosurgery and has over 40 years of experience in his field. Recognized as one of India's top neurosurgeons, he specializes in Parkinson's surgery, psychosurgery, brain tumor surgeries, spine surgeries, and vascular neurosurgery. His outstanding contributions to the field have earned him prestigious awards such as the FIE Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, the Maharashtra Bhushan Puraskar, and the Governor's Award for Best Neurosurgeon of Maharashtra. Dr. Prabhu's expertise and dedication have solidified his reputation as a distinguished figure in neurosurgery.

Area of expertise

Parkinson’s surgery (VIM Thalamotomy), psychosurgery (bilateral amygdalotomy), brain tumors, spine surgeries, aneurysm surgery, cingulotomy, vascular neurosurgery, and arteriovenous malformations

Dr. Shantanu Jadhav

Dr. Shantanu is an Associate Professor at Brandeis University in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program at Waltham, Massachusetts, USA. With a B. Tech. from IIT Mumbai and a Ph.D. from UC San Diego, he completed postdoctoral research at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and the University of California, Berkeley (UCB). His research focuses on the neural basis of learning, memory, and decision-making using rodent models. His work has advanced understanding of neural activity in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.

Research Area

Learning, Memory and Decision Making in the Mammalian Brain

Oren Zeev

Oren is a businessman and venture capitalist. He leads Zeev Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm known for its early investments in technology companies. He is also a passionate table tennis player.

Milan Kovac

Milan is an engineering leader at Tesla. Beyond his groundbreaking work in technology, he is also a passionate table tennis player.

Chico - Francisco Brito Jr.

"Much more than a sport." That's Coach Chico's mantra.

With 43 years of experience playing and coaching table tennis in private and public schools in Brazil and the United States, Coach Chico approaches table tennis as a significant activity that improves the human brain due to its ability to rewire brain connections while playing. Neuroscience has proven that table tennis is even recommended for treating some diseases.

Coach Chico's journey is not just about his on-field achievements. In college, he delved deep into the science behind sports, focusing on biomechanics, physiology, and sports psychology. His academic pursuits led him to research in partnership with the University of Sao Paolo, where he explored the intricate connections between molecular biology and sports. This academic background, coupled with his practical experience, makes Coach Chico a coach of unparalleled expertise and insight.

While focused on his academic career, Coach Chico managed two table tennis academies to train his teams. Several times a state champion, Coach Chico became the Under 18 National Champion in 2005, and his player, Fabio Paciullo, became a junior national player representing Brazil in international tournaments. Additionally, Coach Chico managed three table tennis academies in the 2011 Pan-American Games in Sao Paolo and Guadalajara. His students and Paralympic player, Class 10 Carlos Carbinatti, won two gold medals in singles and doubles.

In 2016, in Las Vegas, Coach Chico's journey reached a new milestone when he became the US National Champion while coaching Sid and Nandan Naresh at the US Nationals. After five years of coaching in the Chicago area, Coach Chico embarked on a new chapter in California. His vision? To build a vibrant and inclusive table tennis community, a place where players of all levels can thrive and the sport can continue to grow.

Boliang Lyu

Boliang is the founder of Micro Motion Table Tennis Club and a professional table tennis player. With experience competing at high levels in China, Europe, and the USA, Boliang brings a wealth of expertise to the sport and is dedicated to promoting table tennis through his club.

Mahesh Desai

Mahesh is a passionate software engineer and architect at Oracle America Inc. He has a rich sports background, having competed at a high level in various sports and remains an avid sports enthusiast.

Varsha Shelar

Varsha is a Software Engineer at Walmart eCommerce. Apart from her career, she is a devoted supporter of her two children, inspiring them to pursue their dreams and reach their full potential.