Table Tennis, also known as ‘ping-pong’ or ‘whiff whaff’ is a ball game which is similar to lawn tennis but is played on a flat table that is divided into two equal courts by a net. The players hit the lightweight ball back and forth using small solid rackets. The matches are played between 2(singles) or 4(doubles) players. The objective of the game is to hit the ball in such a way that it crosses the net and bounces on the opponent’s half in a manner that makes it difficult for the opponent to reach the ball.

Table tennis started off as an imitation of indoor tennis due to bad weather. It was improvised in the 19th century English clubs where they used to play on a pool table, using a string as the net and books as the rackets. After going through a series of names the sport officially became registered and received the name of table tennis in 1920.

The game further expanded in other countries and in 1926 the International Table Tennis Federation(ITTF) was formed in Berlin to govern the sport. It instituted the rules and started promoting championships. However, table tennis was not included in the Olympics until 1988, where China has been dominating the sport for years.

How is the game played?
As per the ITTF rules the first serving is decided by a coin toss, another common practice is that one of the players or the umpire hides the ball usually under the table and the other player has to guess in which hand the ball is. The correct guess gives the player the option to decide whether to serve or receive.

The server commences the play by tossing the ball upwards, at least 16cm high and then strikes the ball as it descends so that the ball first touches server’s court and then the receiver’s court, without touching the net. The receiver must hit the ball before it bounces the second time on his end, thereafter both the players must alternatively make a return till the rally is over.

Scoring

A point is scored by a player in case the opponent:

• Doesn’t make a correct service or return.
• Hits the ball and it goes beyond the end line without touching the player’s court.
• Obstructs the ball.
• Strikes the ball with the side of the racket that is the surface which is not covered with rubber.
• Touches the playing surface with the free hand.
• Who had been warned commits a second offense in the same match.

Generally, national tournaments have 5 sets and the international tournaments have 7 sets. Each game consists of 11 points, in case there is a 10-10 tie, then the set is played until one of the players achieves a 2 point advantage. The player who wins the majority of sets wins the match.

If the game is not finished after 10 minutes of play and less than 18 points have been scored, the expedite system is introduced. Under this system, the server must win a point before the opponent makes 13 good returns otherwise the point goes to the opponent.

Rules

The following are some of the basic rules of the game:

• An official match has a main referee along with an auxiliary referee to make the decisions.
• Before starting the match, the rackets are checked by the referee and the opposing players.
• The server is alternated after 2 points. In doubles, the order is alternated between the doubles ensuring all the players are allowed to serve.
• In the doubles match, the serve must bounce in the server’s right court and then on the receiver’s right court.
• A serve is a let if the ball hits the net and bounces on the opponent’s side. In such case, the point does not count.

Some of the major Table Tennis competitions include the World Table Tennis Championships, Table Tennis World Cup, the Olympics and the ITTF World Tour. While the European Championships, Asian Games and Asian Championships are some of the notable continental competitions.

Table Tennis in India

Established in the year 1937, the Table Tennis Federation of India is the governing body for the sport in India. It is an active member of the ITTF. The following are some of the prominent Indian Tennis Players:

• Kamlesh Mehta was the highest ranked Indian player in Asian, Commonwealth and the World Rankings and has represented India in 7 World Championships, 8 Asian Championships, 2 Asian Games, 6 Commonwealth Championships, 4 South Asian Federation Games and 2 Olympic Games.
• Sharath Kamal has been the senior National Champion for a record 9 times. He has also won 4 gold, 1 silver and 3 bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games.
• Manika Batra has been ranked as the number one female Indian table tennis player. She has won 2 gold and a silver and a bronze each at the Commonwealth Games.
• Neha Aggarwal was the only female Indian player to feature at the 2008 Summer Olympics. She bagged a gold at the Commonwealth Youth Games the same year and a bronze at the 2009 Commonwealth championship.