Sabrina Moretti

She was born in Ancona on the 17^th of August in 1968 and lives in Senigallia. She started to play ping-pong at the age of 13, in 1981 for the first time she came closer to the ping-pong table. Her coach was Enzo Pettinelli. She entered the juvenile nationals, later in the national championships, she became the champion of Italy. It was her who changed the global regulations regarding the sports uniforms: Thanks to Moretti it was possible to wear body suits. Currently she still plays in the first league and is active as coach at the Olympic center in Senigallia.

Agonistic Activity

Since 1990 she has been working as a trainer, organizing estival and hibernal courses for children at the Olympic Center Tennistavolo of Senigallia. Since 1995 she has been trying to modify the FITET regulations that stated the use of a t-shirt and shorts/skirts, introducing the body suit instead. Therefore, she participated in various tv transmissions on news channels, e.g. RAI 1, RAI 2, RAI 3, Canale 5 and others. In addition to that, over 100 articles were published on the most important journals.


Serie A teams where she played:

1986-1987 CUS Milano
1987-1988 Arena Verona
1988-1989 Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto (Messina)
1989-1990 Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto (Messina)
1990-1991 Arena Verona
1991-1992 Scordia (Ragusa)
1992-1993 T.T. Muravera (Cagliari)
1993-1994 T.T. Castelgofredo (Mantova)
1994-1995 A.L.A.R. (Messina)
1995-1996 T.T. Angera
1996-1997 T.T. Angera
2005-2019 T.T. Coccaglio


The Story of the Body Suit

In May 1994, while I was watching athletic competitions on T.V. I had the idea to wear a body suit like the one used by Carl Lewis. No sooner said than done, the day after I bought a total black body suit and in spite of the laughter and the bewilderment of my friends, I had a great training. So, I decided to wear it to the official events. Why did my training result so successful? Because this type of clothes allowed me to perform movements without feeling restrained, so I felt completely free. In fact, in this sport you often hit the ball close to the body and clothes, sometimes soaked in sweet, are a nuisance. In June, 1995, during the Italian Championships in Genoa, I went to the table tennis court wearing a red body suit with short sleeves but the referee told me: "Mrs. Moretti, you cannot play dressed in this way; either you change or you will be disqualified." Surprised by this kind of reaction of the referee I changed my body and I wore a volley-ball uniform. However, the regulation doesn't forbid to wear body suits or something in that style. After this game they considered me like a new Griffith of the table tennis and like a person who wants just to become popular at any cost. On the contrary, in the federation nobody wondered if there could be any technical reason for this new wearing. There is a false moralism hidden under the rules that impose t-shirt, shorts or skirt. I think that it is time to renew this sport introducing some changes, so why don't start with clothes? If you are not bored, I will tell you the second part of this story. In August 1st, 1995 more than 40 newspapers published an article on this subject and I have participated in some telecasts. A month later, after so much outcry, I received a letter from Stefano Bosi, the Federation Chairman, in which he asserted that he would have studied this problem and tried to modify the International regulation. Six months elapsed from that date and I hadn't received any news either from the Chairman or the Federation. Therefore, I designed with my mother, who is tailoress, a model which allowed me to play wearing the body. In fact, in April 1996, during the Top 12 in Pescara, I wore shorts and t-shirt made of transparent silk over the body. Referees, surprised by my new clothes, didn't object and I could play without any problem. That's incredible, isn't it? But the story is not finished yet. In fact, the Federation didn't take in consideration this event so I decided to try a more transparent uniform. For this reason, my mother sewed a t-shirt and a pair of shorts made of fishing net. Fishing nets are not difficult to find in Senigallia, a sea-town, but it is not so much easy to sew them, so my mother had to sew it using a fishing-needle. In June, during the last Italian Championships, in Naples, I wore this new uniform; after a short consultation among referees, they considered it regular. At this point I decided to censure myself playing the first ten points of the first game wearing, like Islamic women, a veil, but made of fishing-net. My behavior caused a great outcry at the Palasport and I was really surprised to see how many photographers, journalists and curious persons come to see me. The consideration of the public opinion and the support of Press and Television have been a great success for me. Finally, at Bolzano, during the last Italian Open, I played again with the body covered by the fishing-net shorts and t-shirt. This time I had the permission of an English referee. I considered it like a step ahead. Moreover, during this tournament, I promoted the idea to play in a table with no white lines. Now I ask the Italian Federation to embrace my cause in order to permit a positive renewal of the regulation. Someone could think I am an exhibitionist and you are free to do it, but, how many sports do you know where women can wear the same as men? Few sports and, among them, table tennis. What is wrong in wearing woman's clothes? However, I know that it takes time to change rules, because people are often attacked to old ideas and it is difficult to modify their habits and prejudices. But anyway, try to think about the changes that have been done in the last 30 years. Tennis, athletics, swimming and so on, have all modified their sportswear; so, I think it is time table tennis also does it. I know that considering the problems of the world someone could smile reading this article, but I believe that also a small battle like this, in every field, can render a man stronger.