PING PONG (TABLE TENNIS)
It is generally k/a Table Tennis. The name 'ping pong' was derived from the sound when the sport was played. It was actually started by the upper class Victorian gentleman in the England. Many people hold the wrong knowledge that " Table Tennis / Ping pong " originated in China, because the Chinese name ping pong is also used for the sport & because the Chinese dominate the game now days.
Table Tennis is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis racket. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net. Except for the initial serve, players must allow a ball played toward them only one bounce on their side of the table and must return it so that it bounces on the opposite side. Points are scored when a player fails to return the ball within the rules. Play is fast and demands quick reactions. A skilled player can impart several varieties of spin to the ball, altering its trajectory and limiting an opponent's options to great advantage.
GOVERNANCE
International Table Tennis Federation: Table Tennis Table Sport is oversees by the ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation) and it is considered as the governing body for all international table tennis association. The main role of ITTF is to organise the rules and regulations and searching time to time technical improvements for Table Tennis table sports. It is completely responsible to organise several international competitions.
After some time the ITTF has given membership according to some region and these are called as the Continental Federation. These include African Table Tennis Federation, Asian Table Tennis Federation, European Table Tennis Federation, Latin American Table Tennis Federation, Northern American Table Tennis Federation and Oceania Table Tennis Federation.
African Table Tennis Federation: ITTF has given the authority for African Region to regulate the table tennis game in African Countries by making African Table Tennis Federation. In ATTF, total 48 members are included according to different African Countries.
Asian Table Tennis Federation: ATTU (Asian Table Tennis Union) is an Asian table tennis governing body declared by ITTF and currently it has 44 members associated with this according to different Asian Countries region. Some region wise Table Tennis events are completely sanctioned by ATTU or ATTU region groups.
European Table Tennis Federation: European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) is considered as the highest authority’s body of regulating of Table Tennis in Europe declared by ITTF. It has 56 member associations according to the European Countries. The main responsibilities of this federation are to control and organize competitions in European Region.
Latin American Table Tennis Federation: This LATTU (Latin American Table Tennis Union) is known as the most famous continental federation of table tennis recognized by ITTF. The LATTU has 37 member associations according to the region working on the development and competitions of table tennis in Latin America.
Northern American Table Tennis Federation: The Northern American Table Tennis Union (NATTU) is the governing body of table tennis sport in Northern American region declared by ITTF. NATTU has 4 members associated to improve popularity and development of table tennis sport in Northern American region.
Oceania Table Tennis Federation: The OTTF is the continental federation declared by ITTF. It is considered as the governing body of table tennis sports in Oceania region. This federation has 24 affiliated members associated to regulate and organize the table tennis sport in Oceania region.
COMPETITION
Competitive table tennis is popular in Asia and Europe and has been gaining attention in the United States.
The most important international competitions are the World Table Tennis Championships, the Table Tennis World Cup, the Olympics and the ITTF Pro Tour. Continental competitions include the European Championships, Europe Top-12, the Asian Championships and the Asian Games.
Chinese players have won the men's World Championships 60% of the time since 1959; in the women's competition, Chinese players have won all but three of the World Championships since 1971. Other strong teams come from East Asia and European countries, including Austria, Belarus, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Sweden, and Taiwan.
There are also professional competitions at the clubs level. The national league of countries like China (the China Table Tennis Super League), Germany, France, Belgium and Austria are some highest level examples. There are also some important international club teams competitions such as the European Champions League and its former competition, the European Club Cup, where the top club teams from European countries compete.
