Table Tennis

In the late 1800s, "ping pong" sparked a craze that swept across England. An association formed in 1902, but interest in the sport dwindled. In 1926, five nations (Austria, England, Germany, Hungary and Sweden) revived it as the Table Tennis Association. The sport was added to the program of the 1979 Pan American Games and the 1988 Olympic Games. Table tennis is now one of the world's most popular sports, with about 200 national sport federations around the globe.

Table tennis is played on a rectangular table 2.74 metres long, 1.53 metres wide and 0.76 metres high. The racquet is permitted to be any size, weight or shape, as long as it is flat, rigid and of even thickness. The rubber surface must be of an approved type. One side of the racquet must be red and the other side must be black.

A player earns points by making shots that his/her opponent cannot return. Players or teams alternate serves every two points. Games end when a player has scored 11 points, unless the margin is less than two points, in which case the play will continue with the serve alternating on every point until a two-point advantage is achieved. Matches are played in best-of-five or best-of-seven sets.

Table Tennis is governed by a rigorous code of conduct. Players and coaches must refrain from abusing spectators, purposely crushing the ball and kicking the table.

In service, the server throws the ball upwards. As the ball is falling, the server strikes it so that it touches first his or her court and then, after passing over or around the net assembly, touches the receiver's court. In doubles, the ball must touch the right half court of the server and the receiver.

Athletes

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