Participating in the World Masters Games for the first time, 73-year-old Sydney resident Cyrus Pestonji won a silver medal in table tennis in the Men’s over-70 Singles event on May 24, 2025 followed by a gold medal in the team event on May 27. With competitors from 107 countries in the 44 scheduled events, the table tennis matches were held at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium, New Taipei City in Taiwan. "I decided to compete this year as my table tennis partner is originally from Taiwan but now resides in Sydney. He suggested that we partner each other and compete in this event. I was encouraged to join him as he could help with local knowledge and advice,” stated Pestonji.
Top and above, r: Cyrus Pestonji playing table tennis at the World Masters Games
"I did not ask for support from any organization or the Australian government. My motivation was to compete and see how I compared with other international competitors in my age group.” Accompanied by his wife Khursheed, his "most staunch supporter who also loves table tennis,” Cyrus added, "She provides important support and encouragement during the competitions. I owe my success to many, especially Khursheed.”
Over the years Cyrus has won many national and international awards in table tennis and cricket. Two years ago he represented Australia in the annual Trans-Tasman Table Tennis tournament against New Zealand (NZ) in Nelson, NZ and won five medals in the over-70 age group events (see "Table tennis tally,” Sports, Parsiana, June 7-20, 2023).
Prior to taking up residence in Sydney in 1981, Cyrus had played against top level competitors in cricket and table tennis in Pakistan. He had received the Sportsman of the Year award in Pakistan in 1971 for his achievements in both the games. The three others to achieve this dual distinction were well-known Pakistani sportsmen, Munawar Baseer, Hasan Jamil and Javed Akhtar. That year Cyrus had also received Punjab’s number one ranking in table tennis. He was later selected in the Pakistan table tennis team against Iran and Turkey. Earlier he had helped his University of Engineering and Technology win the National Inter-varsity Table Tennis championship.
In Australia, Pestonji participated in district table tennis competitions for a few years but had to stop due to work related travel. He restarted his competitive journey after retiring in 2018. He has been part of the New South Wales Veterans teams since then. Despite his achievements, Cyrus remains modest. Currently, besides playing sports he is busy mentoring some Master of Business Administration students from Macquarie University in Sydney from where he had earned his degree in 1997. While helping his grandchildren with school work he is happy to see them play tennis, cricket and soccer at the highest level at school.