A heart for the youth – 3rd place at the “Bavarian Championships” – participation in the Seniors’ World Championship
Pfarrkirchen. Always in good spirits and an encouraging word for his team-mates, and moreover always a role model with his commitment and reliability: Helmut Köstler (74) has remained a fixture for more than four decades in the management body, in the promotion of young talent and in the team structure of the table tennis department of TuS 1860 Pfarrkirchen – and now, after a continuous 50 years of active table tennis, is (almost) putting the bat away, “because five decades of competitive sport really are enough”.
“Our Helmut”, whom a happy twist of fate led to the table tennis section of the TuS, no longer in training and no longer in action in any team – his sports colleagues can hardly imagine it just yet. Helmut Köstler started playing table tennis in 1964 at TSV Griesbach – within a short time he worked his way up from the second to the first team, became champions of the 2nd District League with this team and consequently moved up with them to the 1st District League. “The Griesbach people were very proud of the success, since they could measure themselves against the best Lower Bavarian teams”, he still remembers well.
A job-related move meant that Köstler switched to the table tennis department of TuS 1860 Pfarrkirchen in 1971. Whoever appears committed and motivating soon has quite a bit to do by way of election – his first participation in a members’ meeting earned him the posts of deputy department head and youth coordinator. “The work in the youth sector gave me a great deal of pleasure”, Helmut Köstler still emphasises today. In view of the rapidly rising number of youngsters, the organisation reached its limits: three girls’ and three boys’ teams took part in the active match programme, youth training took place six times a week – and he remembers the record at a club championship exactly: there were 56 participants. Köstler is still grateful today for the great support during those years from the parents and from the department.
The agile and technically skilled table tennis player has not only proven his ability in the teams of the table tennis department up to the District League, but has also gladly taken part in tournaments and achieved many top placings in the table tennis district as well as at district level. Helmut Köstler achieved his last major successes in 2012 at the Lower Bavarian seniors’ championships in Straubing, when he became district champion in both singles and doubles (with Norbert Reinelt). The table tennis player, welcome everywhere, was also always really proud when he was honoured for Lower Bavarian championship titles at the town of Pfarrkirchen’s sports awards ceremony – this honour was bestowed on him nine times for his titles in singles, doubles and with the team.
These highlights remain among his best memories: Helmut Köstler was especially pleased when he was able to achieve 3rd place with “his seniors’ team” at the Bavarian championships 2006 in Schwabhausen, thereby achieving a “podium place”. The absolute sporting highlight for him, however, remains his participation in the Seniors’ World Championship 2002 in Lucerne: 2,752 table tennis players from 63 countries had travelled to determine the world champions in the various age groups – play took place in three large halls at 102 tables. “This World Championship week in Lucerne was a huge experience”, Köstler starts to rave all over again.
There would still be so much to tell – for instance about the lovely table tennis trips of the department to Prague and Vienna as well as to the Zillertal. But back to the sport – and back onto the winning track.
This year, in his last season as an active TuS player, Helmut Köstler again claimed a championship title with his team (Men IV, team captain Martin Schneider) in the 4th District League North and fought his way to promotion to the 3rd District League. “A nice conclusion after 50 years”, he is delighted. Even though our Helmut is now withdrawing from the league match programme, he does not yet want to say a final goodbye to table tennis. Playing the odd seniors’ tournament would still be nice – but not at any cost for the sake of success, simply to meet the old table tennis comrades and not let these friendships fall asleep.
“Thank you Helmut, for everything you have done for our sport and the table tennis department of the TuS”, says department head Wilhelm Kolb – and wishes him, as do all board members and active players, much more joy at the tournaments and at the department’s events. There will surely be one or two surprises in store for him! – lb
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