Douglas joined last week's session at Handsworth Wellbeing Centre, played with members and met people he had known growing up in the area. BBC Midlands filmed the session for a report on Midlands Today.
The Over-50s Black Men Forum (O5BM) uses weekly table tennis as a way into physical activity, friendship and conversations about health for men who may not use traditional health services. The Birmingham hub is part of a wider expansion of its community programme.
Douglas, who reached No 7 in the world and played for Great Britain at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, told BBC Midlands that getting out and playing sport helps older men set aside bad thoughts, adding: "Mentally you're in a happier place."
