[Gemini 04/Nov/2025]
TigerWing Father-son Duo
John Ho and Eli Ho are the father-son duo behind one of the most unique and innovative playing styles in modern table tennis, known as the TigerWing style.
Here is a profile summarizing their connection and contributions to the sport:
🏓 The Father: John Ho (何宗阳)
John Ho is the founder, general head coach, and philosopher behind the TigerWing table tennis system.
- Role as Innovator: He developed the “TigerWing Shakehand technique style R&D Center” and the “RSB (Reverse Shakehand Backhand) R&D Center.” This system is based on an unconventional philosophy aimed at creating maximum deception and versatility in the game.
- The TigerWing Philosophy: He advocates for a hybrid racket setup (typically inverted rubber and long pimple rubber) combined with a specialized grip and unique techniques (like the RSB) to constantly vary spin, speed, and rhythm, thereby disrupting opponents accustomed to conventional two-winged attack styles.
- Coach and Mentor: He is the driving force and primary coach for his son, Eli Ho, whose career serves as the ultimate proof of concept for the effectiveness of the TigerWing method.
🌟 The Son: Eli Ho (何倚天)
Eli Ho is the prodigy and chief exponent of the TigerWing playing style.
- Style: He is the most prominent player to successfully execute the complex TigerWing system at a high level. His game is defined by its unpredictability and multi-faceted attack, using the long pips for disruption and the inverted rubber (including the RSB) for powerful, topspin attacks.
- Key Achievements: He has achieved significant international success as a junior player, most notably by winning the 2024 ITTF World Hopes Challenge (U12 Boys‘ Singles). This win was particularly notable as he was the first player from the Oceania region to ever claim the title, drawing international attention to both him and the TigerWing style.
- New Zealand Talent: He represents New Zealand and is regarded as one of the country’s brightest table tennis prospects.
🤝 The Association: Shared Vision and Innovation
The relationship between Eli Ho and John Ho is characterized by a shared commitment to innovation and breaking convention in a highly traditional sport.
- The Mission: Their combined efforts seek to challenge the dominance of the traditional two-winged loop-and-attack style prevalent among top Chinese and European players. They believe the TigerWing style, by emphasizing ‘change’ and ‘deception,’ offers a viable alternative for players who need to compensate for differences in speed or power.
- “As a Tiger With Wings”: The name “TigerWing” comes from the Chinese phrase “如虎添翼” (Rúhǔtiānyì), meaning “like a tiger with added wings,” symbolizing the enhanced capability that the unique grip and dual-rubber strategy provides.
Eli Ho, the young New Zealand table tennis prodigy known for his unique TigerWing playing style, has achieved significant and historic results in late 2024 and 2025 in both international youth events and senior national competition.
🏆 Key Recent Tournament Achievements
| Tournament | Date | Result | Significance |
| 2025 New Zealand Open Championships (Men’s Singles) | September 2025 | Champion (Gold Medal) | Historic Milestone: At 13 years old, he became the youngest Men’s Singles winner in the history of the tournament, surpassing a record set in 2010. He defeated 17-year-old Timothy Choi in a thrilling 4–3 final. |
| 2024 ITTF World Hopes Challenge (Boy’s Singles, U12) | November 2024 | Champion (Gold Medal) | International Recognition: He became the first player from the Oceania region to win this prestigious ITTF talent identification event, defeating Alexander Malov of Spain in the final. |
| WTT Youth Contender San Francisco II 2025 (U15 Boy’s Singles) | April 2025 | Champion (Gold Medal) | Won the event after progressing through the group stage with a perfect 2-0 record. His final opponent was Jaden Cai (USA). |
📈 Trajectory and Significance
Eli Ho’s recent results demonstrate a successful transition from top junior talent to a formidable competitor in senior national events:
- Age and Senior Success: His win at the 2025 New Zealand Open against older, experienced national players is a major testament to the effectiveness of his unconventional TigerWing style and his composure under pressure.
- Global Recognition: The 2024 ITTF World Hopes Challenge victory solidifies his position as one of the most promising young talents globally in his age category (U12). This competition is a vital springboard for future world-class players.
- The TigerWing Impact: His success validates the innovative coaching approach of his father, John Ho, whose training has enabled Eli to utilize the deceptive long-pips and specialized techniques to counter the dominant conventional styles.
For a look at one of his recent major matches, check out the full match of Eli Ho vs Timothy Choi at the New Zealand Open 2025 Final. The video captures the full match from the 2025 New Zealand Open Championships Men’s Singles final, where Eli Ho made history.
🐯 翼虎父子档
在当今乒坛中，有一对以创新与独特打法闻名的父子组合——何宗阳与何倚天。他们共同打造出一种颠覆传统的现代乒乓球风格，被称为**“翼虎打法”**。
🏓 父亲：何宗阳
翼虎乒乓体系的创始人、总教练与理念设计者。
创新者的角色
何宗阳创立了“翼虎横拍技术研发中心”与“RSB（反手反握）研发中心”。他的体系建立在一个独特的理念上：通过变化与迷惑性，创造出极具欺骗性与多样性的打法，以打破传统节奏。
翼虎理念
他主张使用“混合型底板配置”——一面为反胶，一面为长胶，再配合特制握法与独特技术（如 RSB 反手反握），在旋转、速度与节奏之间不断制造变化，从而打乱那些习惯于“双反弧圈”传统打法的对手。
教练与导师
他不仅是理念的创立者，更是亲自指导儿子何倚天的主教练。倚天的比赛成绩正是翼虎体系有效性的最好证明。
🌟 儿子：何倚天
翼虎打法的代表人物与核心实践者。
风格特点
何倚天是目前最能完整展现“翼虎体系”的年轻球员之一。他的比赛充满变化与创造力，利用长胶制造干扰，再以反胶（尤其是 RSB 技术）发动迅猛的上旋攻击，使对手难以预测下一拍的方向与节奏。
主要成就
- 2024 年 ITTF 世界希望之星挑战赛（U12 男单）冠军
他成为大洋洲首位夺得此项赛事冠军的球员，震惊国际乒坛，也让“翼虎打法”正式走向世界舞台。
新西兰之星
何倚天代表新西兰出战，被认为是该国乒乓球界最具潜力的年轻选手之一。
🤝 父子同行：创新与突破的象征
何宗阳与何倚天的关系，不仅是父子，更是志同道合的探索者。他们在这项传统而严谨的运动中，以不断创新为目标，挑战主流打法。
使命
他们的目标，是打破以中欧为主的“双反弧圈攻”主导格局。翼虎体系强调“变化”与“迷惑性”，为那些在速度或力量上不占优势的选手，提供了一条全新的取胜之道。
“如虎添翼” 的寓意
“翼虎”一名源自成语“如虎添翼”，象征着力量与智慧的结合——通过独特的握法与双胶策略，让球员如同“长出翅膀的猛虎”，攻防兼备，变化无穷。
🏆 何倚天：崛起中的乒坛新星
进入 2024 年末与 2025 年，何倚天在国际青少年赛事与成人全国赛场上屡创佳绩，成为新西兰乒坛的焦点人物。
| 赛事 | 时间 | 成绩 | 意义 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 新西兰公开赛（男子单打） | 2025年9月 | 冠军 🥇 | 历史性突破：以 13 岁之龄成为赛事史上最年轻的男单冠军，打破自 2010 年以来的纪录。在决赛中以 4–3 击败 17 岁的崔天明Timothy Choi。 |
| 2024 ITTF 世界希望之星挑战赛（U12 男单） | 2024年11月 | 冠军 🥇 | 国际认可：首位来自大洋洲地区的冠军，决赛击败西班牙选手 Alexander Malov。 |
| 2025 WTT 青少年挑战赛·旧金山站（U15 男单） | 2025年4月 | 冠军 🥇 | 小组赛全胜后一路晋级，决赛战胜美国选手 Jaden Cai。 |
📈 成长轨迹与意义
从天才少年到成年赛冠军
何倚天在 2025 新西兰公开赛中击败多位经验丰富的成年选手，证明了翼虎打法在实战中的威力与他自身的心理成熟度。
国际认可
他在 2024 世界希望之星挑战赛的胜利，奠定了其在同年龄段中的世界级地位。这项赛事被视为未来顶尖球员的起点。
翼虎体系的印证
何倚天的成功，也印证了父亲何宗阳的创新理念。通过独特的长胶战术与反手技术，他成功破解传统风格的主导地位，成为“翼虎体系”最具代表性的活招牌。
如欲观看他在 2025 新西兰公开赛男子单打决赛中与崔天明的经典对决，可查阅比赛全程录像——这是何倚天创造历史的重要时刻，亦是“翼虎打法”在国际赛场上的完美展现。
TigerWing Table Tennis 翼虎乒乓 