| Most sports will require some kind of skill | | | | tennis became really popular as an leisure |
| or some form of characteristics that will | | | | activity for the family. In fact, in the |
| make playing a little bit easier. Height for | | | | early 19th century, it is often played as an |
| example is an advantage when it comes to | | | | after-dinner activity during parties. |
| basketball as players who are tall can easily | | | | |
| get to the baskets. Bowling, on the other | | | | Between the periods 1905 to 1910, the craze |
| hand, requires strength of the arm as well as | | | | for the ping pong spread through Central |
| steadiness because the bowling ball can be | | | | Europe and eventually to Asian countries like |
| really heavy. Chess needs a mind that thinks | | | | Japan, China and Korea. |
| strategy and end game while those who are | | | | |
| involved with gymnastics will need | | | | After a period of waning interests, table |
| flexibility and coordination. Although all | | | | tennis was once again revived in England, |
| these can actually be learned through | | | | particularly in Wales by the early 1920s. |
| constant practice, there are still people who | | | | This time, the name table tennis was |
| seem to play these sports so naturally. | | | | officially used while ping pong became a |
| | | | trademark. At this time, national |
| Table tennis, however is one of those sports | | | | associations of players of table tennis were |
| that seem to require no prerequisite | | | | formed and rules about the game were |
| conditions. Everything can actually be | | | | standardized, not only in the country but in |
| learned through practice, including the speed | | | | Europe and in the Far East as well. |
| of the reflexes. | | | | |
| | | | Over the next years up until now, table |
| The start of the game | | | | tennis has become a worldwide sensation. By a |
| | | | recent accounting, the sports has about 30 |
| Similar to the beginnings of other sports, | | | | million competitive players all over the |
| Table Tennis also began as a social activity. | | | | world. Since leisure players are not part of |
| It is actually quite similar to tennis and to | | | | that figure, one can just imagine the extent |
| badminton except that instead of a lawn or a | | | | of the sport's success. |
| court with a net in the middle, table tennis | | | | |
| has well... a table. In fact, Fred Perry, a | | | | There are actually few changes in the rules |
| World Champion in the sport went on to became | | | | of the game since its inception. It however |
| a champion in Tennis. That's how related | | | | became, faster and more demanding than |
| these games are. | | | | before, with players becoming more skillful |
| | | | with their games and faster with their |
| During the second half of the 19th century, | | | | reflexes. Among the changes that occur |
| the game gained popularity in England and | | | | through the years are: the height of the net |
| even had various names such as Gossima and | | | | in the middle of the table, some rules in |
| Whiff-Whaff. But of course, the name Table | | | | serving and tie-breaking matches. |
| Tennis caught on. The name Ping Pong also | | | | |
| became really popular. | | | | These changes are only made in the biennial |
| | | | meeting of the International Table Tennis |
| Purportedly, the word ping pong came from the | | | | Federation to ensure that rules are |
| sound of the ball as it strikes the table and | | | | standardized all over the world. In addition, |
| the rackets. But unlike other sports games, | | | | changes are not implemented until a vote of |
| which are played primarily outdoors, table | | | | majority is reached. |