By Sushant Lebaka
Press Committee Member

For Asif Ud-Doula, table tennis has long been more than a game. Alongside a career in astrophysics, he has spent years playing, coaching, umpiring, and helping collegiate table tennis grow.

Dr. Ud-Doula is a tenured full professor of physics at Penn State Scranton. He remains active in astrophysics research and travels internationally for conferences and collaborations. This summer, he was granted a Fulbright Specialist Program grant from the U.S. Department of State and visited Dong Thap University in southern Vietnam for a 40-day project.

With a USATT rating of approximately 2100, Ud-Doula is a veteran player in the Tri-State area and enjoys playing when visiting new countries, including on his recent trip through Central Europe. At home, he coaches the Penn State Scranton Table Tennis Club.

Ud-Doula’s contributions extend beyond playing and coaching. As an international umpire, he has officiated at the U.S. Nationals and, most recently, USA Smash 2026, where he umpired some of the world’s best players. He is also the current division director in Pennsylvania.

Several years ago, Ud-Doula was invited to apply for a board position but declined because of academic commitments. With more flexibility in his schedule, he has now accepted the role of League Representative, formerly filled by the exemplary Jay Lu. The position has its own set of challenges, one being the late-night meetings to accommodate time zone differences. However, he enjoys the opportunity to make a difference in a community so dear to him.

From campus clubs to international events, Ud-Doula has experienced table tennis from nearly every side of the table. His new role gives him another way to support the collegiate game he has championed for years.

(Featured above is Dr. Ud-Doula in his element; photo credit to Yukong Zhang)