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Table Tennis
Table Tennis, game played
on a table, by two or four contestants, with a
small, lightweight celluloid ball and small
rackets, often called bats or paddles.
 Rules
And Equipment
The rectangular table
tennis table measures 9 ft by 5 ft (2.74 m by
1.52 m). It is marked by a white line down the
centre of its length (which is used only in
doubles play) and is divided by a net 6 ft (1.52
m) wide.
The table is 9 ft by 5 ft (2.74 m by 1.52 m)
with its upper surface 30 in (76 cm) above the
floor. The table is divided into opposing courts
by a net 6 in (15.24 cm) high and a white
stripe, running lengthwise down the centre, that
is used only for doubles play. The surface of a
standard table is made of 3/4-in (1.91-cm)
five-ply wood, the resiliency of which is such
that a standard table tennis ball, when dropped
from a height of 1 ft (30.5 cm), will rebound to
a height of from 8 to 9 in (22.2 to 24.8 cm).
The white (or orange) celluloid ball is hollow;
it is about 1.5 in (40 mm) in diameter and about
0.88 oz (2.7 g) in weight. The rackets may be
any shape but usually are oval and made of wood,
faced with rubber or sponge that may be pimpled
or smooth.
Like tennis, table tennis involves hitting the
ball back and forth over the net until one of
the players misses the ball, or hits it into the
net or off the table; in each of these cases the
opponent scores a point. To serve properly, a
player holds the ball on the flat, outstretched
palm of the hand, then throws it up and strikes
it as it falls. There are two distinctive ways
of holding the bat: either as if holding a pen
or as if shaking a hand. The ball must then hit
the table on the server's side of the net first,
whereupon play continues as in tennis, but the
ball must hit the table before being returned by
a player. When a serve touches the net but is
otherwise a good serve, it is called a “let” and
played over. One player serves until 2 points
have been scored, after which the opponent
serves for the next 2 points. A game is won by
the player who first scores 11 points. If the
score is tied at 10-all, deuce, the service
changes after each point until one player gains
a 2-point advantage to win the game. Players
change ends after every game. So-called net and
edge balls—that is, shots that touch either the
net or table edge—are valid shots. When, in the
opinion of the umpire, a ball hits the side
instead of the end edge of the table, the player
who made the shot loses the point.
Doubles play in table tennis differs from
singles play in the following respects: 1.
Service must be from the right hand court into
the opponent's right hand court. 2. Each partner
must hit or return alternate shots. Each player
receives service for 2 points, then, as
opponents shift positions, serves for 2 points.
The sequence of one specific partner hitting to
one specific opponent must be changed after each
game. Matches can be the best of five, seven, or
nine games.
Table Tennis In India
The state of affairs in
the game of table tennis in India has been a
baffling one. Despite having one of the most
efficient administrative bodies in place, the
game has failed to produce world-class talents.
At the team level, India's most cherished
performance has been the World Championships in
Gothenburg where it was placed 12th.
The fact that even in the midst of such
sustained mediocrity India has played host to
three World Champions is a tribute to the
organizational efficiency present in the game.
Moreover table tennis has been one of the few
games to have found favor with institutional
organizations like oil companies and banks.
The Petroleum Sports Promotion Board regularly
holds inter unit tournaments and recruits
national level table tennis players. But such
active promotion and administration have failed
to raise the standard of the game in India.
Lack of major success at the international stage
has resulted in stagnation and the popularity of
the game has nosedived in comparison to games
like cricket and tennis.
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