Table tennis is one of the most interesting sports that is played in indoor formats. The game has its legacy from where it came from and how it has evolved at the international level. Many countries have their Table tennis teams and have given out many legendary players. Table tennis in short is also known as TT.
Table tennis first appeared in the late nineteenth century in England. The first participants were middle-class Victorians who were inspired by lawn tennis. The first game used a champagne cork as a ball, cigar cases as bats and books as a net. Tennis on a table was invented in 1890 by Englishman David Foster, who was drawn to its widespread popularity. Hungary hosted its first national finals in 1897. In 1901, James Gibb returned from a journey to the United States with the first celluloid ball, which was much lighter than rubber balls.
Following the success of the first public tournaments at Queen’s Hall in London, the first formal World Championship was held in 1902. The sport grew in popularity and the British Table Tennis Federation was established.
Following that, the first European Championships were held in 1907. Everything accelerated in the 1920s. The Table Tennis Association was founded in England in 1921, and the International Federation was founded in 1926.
Table tennis became popular in Asian nations in the 1950s. Between 1954 and 1959, Japan dominated the World Team Championships. This dominance was strengthened by the advent of foam, which transformed traditional bats. The Japanese have produced several world champions, including Hiroji Sato, who distinguished themselves with their impressive performances in Tokyo in 1956.
The arrival of Chinese dominance in the 1960s was marked by Zhuand Zedong’s triple world champion titles in 1961, 1963, and 1965. During this time, ping-pong diplomacy was created, which aided in the improvement of Sino-American relations. The first “Chinese service” was used in 1977, during the World Championships in Birmingham. The service evolved from a simple serve to a strategy component of the game. As a result, Asia’s place in table tennis history became crucial to the advancement of this international sport.
