"Table Tennis and the Brain: How Sport Can Rewire Recovery"

Tanvi & Aarav Desai | TEDxMilton Keynes Youth

August 12, 2025. Milton Keynes, London, UK

"Rallying Hope: How Table Tennis is Rewiring Lives"

Tanvi & Aarav Desai | TEDxWoodcreek HS

September 11, 2025. Roseville, CA, USA

"Rallying Hope: How Table Tennis is Rewiring Lives"

What if a simple table tennis ball could rewire someone's brain and restore their confidence? Through free weekly table tennis sessions, hundreds of people with Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, autism, and other neurological conditions are discovering that sport isn't just competition—it's therapy. This talk reveals how the rhythm and movement of table tennis can unlock neuroplasticity and transform lives, one rally at a time.

As co-founders of Table Tennis for Life, siblings Tanvi (14) and Aarav (12) Desai are reshaping the conversation around brain health and recovery. Founded in 2024, their youth-led nonprofit has supported over 500 people with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, autism, and other challenges through free weekly sessions and outreach. Their bold, human-centered dream is to put a paddle in the hands of anyone who could benefit—not for competition, but for therapy, resilience, and dignity. Tanvi, a rising 9th grader at Emerald High School in Dublin, CA, is a U.S. National Team athlete with six years of experience and medals from U.S. Open and National tournaments, combining science with empathy to reimagine brain health. Aarav, a rising 7th grader at Cottonwood Creek K-8 School, is a three-time U.S. National Team member who recently won his first World Table Tennis (WTT) Youth Contender Championship. Together, they lead with purpose, proving every rally can spark recovery and hope.

September 11, 2025. Roseville, CA, USA

Tanvi & Aarav Desai | TEDxWoodcreek HS

TEDx Talk

Our TEDx talk is yet to be released.

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