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Table tennis

Table tennis (also known as ping-pong or whiff-whaff) is a racket sport derived from tennis but distinguished by its playing surface being atop a stationary table, rather than the court on which players stand. Either individually or in teams of two, players take alternating turns returning a light, hollow ball over the table's net onto the opposing half of the court using small rackets until they fail to do so, which results in a point for the opponent. Play is fast, requiring quick reaction and constant attention, and is characterized by an emphasis on spin relative to other ball sports, which can heavily affect the ball's trajectory.

"Ping-pong" redirects here. For other uses, see Ping-pong (disambiguation).

Highest governing body

ITTF

19th century, England[1][2]

No

Singles or doubles

Racquet sport, indoor

Poly, 40 mm (1.57 in),
2.7 g (0.095 oz)

Glossary of table tennis

Since 1988

Since inaugural 1960 Summer Paralympics

Owed to its small minimum playing area, its ability to be played indoors in all climates, and relative accessibility of equipment, table tennis is enjoyed worldwide not just as a competitive sport, but as a common recreational pastime among players of all levels and ages.


Table tennis has been an Olympic sport since 1988,[3] with event categories in both men's and women's singles, and men's and women's teams since replacing doubles in 2008.


Table tennis is governed by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), founded in 1926, and specifies the official rules in the ITTF handbook.[4] ITTF currently includes 226 member associations worldwide.[5]

The ball touches the net in service (service), provided the service is otherwise correct or the ball is obstructed by the player on the receiving side. Obstruction means a player touches the ball when it is above or traveling towards the playing surface, not having touched the player's court since last being struck by the player.

When the player on the receiving side is not ready and the service is delivered.

Player's failure to make a service or a return or to comply with the Laws is due to a disturbance outside the control of the player.

Play is interrupted by the umpire or assistant umpire.

European Championships

Europe Top-16

the

Asian Championships

the

Asian Games

Competitive table tennis is popular in East Asia and Europe, and has been gaining attention in the United States.[63] The most important international competitions are the World Table Tennis Championships, the Table Tennis World Cup, the Olympics and the ITTF World Tour. Continental competitions include the following:


Chinese players have won 60% of the men's World Championships since 1959;[64] in the women's competition for the Corbillon Cup, Chinese players have won all but three of the World Championships since 1971.[65] Other strong teams come from East Asia and Europe, including Austria, Belarus, Germany, Hong Kong, Portugal, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Sweden, and Taiwan.[66]


There are professional competitions at the clubs level; the respective leagues of Austria, Belgium, China (China Table Tennis Super League), Japan (T.League), France, Germany (Bundesliga), and Russia are examples of the highest level. There are also some important international club teams competitions such as the European Champions League and its former competitor, the European Club Cup, where the top club teams from European countries compete.


Virtual reality table tennis competition took place in Olympic Esports Week on June 24, 2023 in Singapore. Eleven Table Tennis was the game played during the event. The final match was played between two players both representing France. ITTF Group CEO, Steve Dainton also participated in the event. [67] European table tennis federation and French table tennis association are also arranging virtual reality table tennis tournaments.[68]

1 year after the date of registration, if the player is under the age of 15 when registered and has never represented another association

3 years after the date of registration, if the player is under the age of 15 when registered and has already represented another association

5 years after the date of registration, if the player is under the age of 18 but at least 15 years of age when registered

7 years after the date of registration, if the player is under the age of 21 but at least 18 years of age when registered

9 years after the date of registration, if the player is at least 21 years old when registered

According to the New York Times, 31% of the table tennis players at the 2016 Summer Olympics were naturalized. The rate was twice as high as the next sport, basketball, which featured 15% of naturalized players.[69]


Feng Tianwei, a Chinese-born player representing Singapore, has medaled in three Olympic table tennis events, more medals than native Singaporeans have won in all other sports combined (two). These successes have been somewhat controversial in Singapore.[70] In 2014, Singapore Table Tennis Association's president Lee Bee Wah quit over this issue;[71] her successor, Ellen Lee, later favored the application for citizenship of Zeng Jian, a China-born paddler.[72]


The rate of naturalization accelerated after the ITTF's 2009 decision (one year after China won every possible Olympic medal in the sport) to reduce the number of entries per association in both the Olympics and the World Table Tennis Championships.


In 2019, the ITTF adopted new regulations which state that players who acquired a new nationality may not represent their new association before:[73]

Variants

Hardbat table tennis uses rackets with short outward "pips" and no sponge, resulting in decreased speeds and reduced spin. World Championship of Ping Pong uses old-fashioned wooden paddles covered with sandpaper.


Round the World (also called Round Robin or Round the Table) table tennis is an informal party-type variation in which players line up on either side of the table. When a player hits the ball he sets the paddle down, and the player behind him picks it up to receive the return. When a player sets down his paddle, he moves to the line at the opposing side of the table. Players are eliminated as they lose a point. When only 2 players remain, a player hits the ball, sets his paddle down, spins and then retrieves his paddle to make the return.[92] [93]

Uzorinac, Zdenko (2001). ITTF 1926 - 2001 Table Tennis Legends. ITTF.  2-94031-200-1. OCLC 248920627.

ISBN

Charyn, Jerome (2002). Sizzling Chops & Devilish Spins: Ping-Pong and the Art of Staying Alive. Four Walls Eight Windows.  1-56858-242-0.

ISBN

Hodges, Larry (1993). . Human Kinetics. ISBN 0-87322-403-5.

Table Tennis: Steps to Success

(2011). ITTF Handbook 2011/2012. Archived from the original on 6 July 2010. Retrieved 25 December 2011.

International Table Tennis Federation

(2021). 2021 ITTF Handbook. Retrieved 7 December 2021.

International Table Tennis Federation

Seemiller, Dan (1996). . Human Kinetics. ISBN 0-88011-520-3.

Winning Table Tennis: Skills, Drills, and Strategies

Official ITTF website

Official ETTU website

at Curlie

Table tennis