Precious Em G.

Evora
Individual and Dual Sports (3:45-6:00)

Brief History of Table Tennis

The research by Gerald Gurney entitled “Table Tennis: The Early Years” is believed to be the
ultimate guide to the history of this sport.

The International Table Tennis Federation was opened in 2004 and was based in Lausanne,
Switzerland but moved to Shanghai, China in 2014.

Who invented table tennis?

- It was invented in the late 1880s (it is the indoor version of lawn tennis)
- Different trademarked names by different manufacturers: Indoor Tennis,
Gossima, Whiff-Waff, and Ping Pong.
- The First action of game of tennis on a table was in 1890.

The early years:

- John Jaques & Son manufactured and popularized the first table tennis sets and
game (1898)
- Rackets (bats/paddles) with velum stretched over an outer casing (similar to a
small drum) attached to a handle.
- Ping Pong was derived from the sound that was made by different sized rackets
(bats/paddles) striking a ball.
- Two rival organizations were formed – Table Tennis Association and Ping Pong
Association (1901).
- In 1920s it was back in fashion, particularly in Europe.

Ping Pong v Table Tennis

- An alternative name (instead of Ping Pong by John & Son) Table Tennis was
chosen. Since the establishment of the International Table Tennis Federation
(ITTF) in 1926, the modern game has been known as Table Tennis.
- Ping Pong remains a registered trademark and brand of equipment, whilst the
official name for the sport since 1926 is table tennis.

The birth of the ITTF

- January 16, 1926 “International Table Tennis Federation” (ITTF) was formed.
 - Austria, Czechoslovakia, England, Germany, Hungary, India, Sweden and Wales
were all invited to become the original members of the ITTF.
- The first World Championship was held in London, England from 6-11 December
1926.

The rise of the East

- The first 25 years of the World Championships were dominated by mens singles in
Hungary and England players. After that, the Japanese and Chines players have
taken the majority of world titles from the 1950s onwards.

Reference:

Hughers M. (2013). The History of Table Tennis.

https://www.allabouttabletennis.com/history-of-table-tennis.html