History of Table Tennis
The history of table tennis parallels
the evolution of its equipment, which is common in many sports. The first references
to the game appeared in the 1890s with early attempts to develop an indoor version
of tennis. The game went by many names and was played on dining tables as a
popular after-dinner entertainment. The game was played with long-handled
rackets covered with velum and balls of cork or rubber. The poor quality of the
balls largely led to the quick demise of these early forms of the game.
With the development of the celluloid
ball in the 1920s, the game slowly began to revive. Several major game
companies, such as J. Jacques & Son in England and Parker Brothers in the United
States, began to successfully promote competing versions of the game under a
variety of names. In the United States, the Parker Brothers trademark of Ping
Pong was the most widely accepted. The game also began to grow in sport clubs throughout
Europe. In 1927, the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) was formed, and
the first world championships were conducted.
With the invention of the hard rubber
racket in the 1930s, the game took a major leap forward.
This racket has a layer of rubber with short, hard pimples
that cover the wood blade. For the first time, players could apply a moderate amount
of spin to the ball, and spin strokes were developed. This allowed far more
ball control and speed. The game quickly grew in popularity with the establishment
of league play throughout Europe and clubs in the United States. The United
States Table Tennis Association (USTTA) was formed in 1933. Although European
players dominated during this era, the U.S. team was
very competitive and won several world titles.
The modern game began with the
introduction of the sponge bat in the 1950s. After much experimentation, the
current restrictions of rubber over a sponge layer (pimples in or out) with a
maximum thickness of 4 millimeters was decided on. The Japanese, with their
penhold grip, long and powerful strokes, and great footwork, were the first to
capitalize on the greatly increased spin and speed that this equipment afforded.
They would dominate the sport through much of the 1950s and early 1960s. The
Chinese emerged on the scene in the early 1960s and quickly took over as the
sport’s great innovators and begin a period of dominance that continues today.
They pioneered the fastattack style of play and showed the world the importance
of developing a strong serve and serve–return game. Although China has
dominated the sport in recent years, many players from other Asian nations and
many European players have broken through to gain individual world and Olympic titles.
Table tennis made its Olympic debut at the
Seoul Olympics in 1988, at which point it gained true worldwide recognition.
National Olympic committees from around the world began pouring money and
support into creating medal contenders, and the overall caliber of play rose
everywhere. Since that time, continual advancements in equipment have led to
faster and faster play. As in all
sports, the professional
table tennis athlete has had to become bigger, stronger, and
faster.
Table tennis is now one of the largest
participation sports in the world. The ITTF consists of 204 member countries.
The ITTF conducts many world events including yearly world championships, world
cups, and an international pro tour. Along with these events, the ITTF conducts
an international junior development program consisting of camps, an international
junior circuit, and world junior and cadet championships. There are also more
than 100 yearly development courses conducted worldwide, offering training for
coaches, officials, and athletes.
USA Table Tennis (formerly the USTTA)
is the governing body for table tennis in the United States. It consists of a
network of hundreds of local clubs and sanctioned tournaments. More than 17
million people in the United States play table tennis on a recreational level,
but only about 50,000 play in organized club settings. Of these, more than
7,000 take part in competitions. When you compare this number to the more than
20 million serious players in China, or the almost one million participants in the
German national league, it is clear that the United States has a long way to go
to become competitive with the rest of the world.
With strong professional leagues
existing throughout much of Europe and Asia, along with the ITTF pro tour, more
and more professional athletes are making a good living playing table tennis.
Although China continues to hold its lead, winning many of the world’s major
titles, the rest of the world is narrowing the gap.
Sumber: Richard
McAfee
