More popular by the name of table tennis, this sport has a specific beginning in Victorian England. It used to be a game famous between the upper-class England citizens. It is a two or four-player game played on a hard table. It may be played single-handedly or in a team. It is played with a racquet and a hollow plastic ball. The rigid table is divided by a small net in the middle.
Introduction of Ping-Pong to the world
When the East India Company started to rule over other countries after the 1800s, officials also migrated with the ruling government. Officials mainly consist of upper-class people of England. They, along with them, even took their entertainment source, ping-pong with them. It was the first time when ping-pong gets exposed to the world. It is a parlor game.
The British manufacturer J.Jacques&Son Ltd. Have given the name ping-pong. As the game gains popularity in the outside countries, other manufacturers also came into the game. But due to the trademark of the name 'ping-pong,' they have to give it another name i.e., table tennis. The British Company soon sell the right to use its name to an American company operated by Parker Brother, who, in turn, trademarked this name in the 1920s. Now the original manufactured can not use the name ping-pong.
Later in 1901, it was discovered that celluloid balls would be ideal for playing ping-pong instead of plastic balls. James W. Gibbs did this invention. Later E.C. Goode made some changes in the racquet. He has upgraded it by fixing a rubber sheet on it. These sheets can be seen in the modern-day racquets also.
International Table tennis Federation and Tournaments
Seeing the growing popularity of the game, officials have started organizing tournaments. The first-ever tournament of Table Tennis was organized in 1901. Noticing the match's craze in ordinary people, the first unofficial crown event was organized in 1902. Later many unofficial tournaments took place. Finally, in 1921, an official association is formed. It was named Table Tennis Association which later in 1926, changed to English Table Tennis Association.
Afterward, in the same year, they called it the International Table Tennis Federation(ITTF). In 1926, London hosted the first-ever Table tennis World Championship.
The USA in 1933 has formed their federation for table tennis named, United States Table Tennis Association. In the later part of the 20th century, a manufacturer named S.W. Hancock Ltd. Has introduced a new change in the racquet. They have inserted a sponge sheet bellow the rubber. It helps in attaining great speed and spins the ball correctly. In the 1980s, a speed glue is introduced by the same manufacturer in the racquets. Later in the 1980s, keeping an eye on the sport's evolution and popularity, it officially introduced it to the Olympics.
From being a sacred game played by some people in England to one of the world's most popular games, ping-pong's journey is fascinating. Many political relations and social reforms are connected to these sports when introduced in various parts of the world. For More Information You Can Always Visit PingPongBeast.com #1 Destination For All Your Queries.