Table Tennis: Japan’s women into World Team Championships final - Sport Asia Home / News / Table Tennis: Japan’s women into World Team Championships final Table Tennis: Japan’s women into World Team Championships final Tweet Updated: May 5, 2014 Japan’s women celebrate their 3-1 win over Hong Kong to reach Monday’s final of the Zen-Noh World Team Championships in Tokyo. Photos: ITTF / Action Images. May 5, 2014: Both of China’s national teams moved into the finals of the Zen-Noh World Team Championships in Tokyo, with the men – featuring the world’s top three players – facing Germany in the men’s decider at 4.30pm and the women taking on hosts Japan at 7.30pm. The Japan women’s team brought the capacity crowd to their feet on Sunday as they beat Hong Kong 3-1 in the semi-finals to give themselves a shot at winning the Corbillon Cup for the first time since 1971. Although they had a disappointing start with Yuka Ishigaki losing 3-0 to Lee Ho-ching, Japan won the next three matches, which all went to five games.

As she did the previous day against Netherlands, World No. 10 Kasumi Ishikawa clinched the deciding match for the team, this time against Lee. “She’s a great player, but just like my previous match I was able to maintain myself,” said the 21-year-old Ishikawa. “Again I gave it my all. Yesterday Ishigaki helped the team to win, so today I wanted to do the same.” Japan will face top seeds China, who swept aside Singapore 3-0 in the semi-finals, and who have reached the finals without losing a single individual match at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium. Ding Ning in China’s 3-0 win over Singapore in the women’s semi-final. However, Japan’s men lost 3-1 to Germany in the semi-finals. Despite star player Jun Mizutani’s outstanding 3-2 win against World No. 4 Dimitrij Ovtcharov, Germany’s Timo Boll won two matches and Patrick Franziska came back to beat Kenta Matsudaira to give the team that Boll described as “their best in history” a shot at the title.

The 22-year-old Franziska said: “I tried not to think so much in this match, to focus on my strokes, serves and receives. I was happy I could win. You could say that it was one of the biggest matches of my life. The spectators were really loud. I played very good table tennis.” Despite Germany having a rich table tennis heritage, they have never won the Swaythling Cup, the trophy awarded to the winners of the men’s World Team Championships. If Germany are to win gold, they will have to overcome their nemesis China, who beat them in the 2004, 2010 and 2012 finals. The China team features the world’s three top-ranked players and Ma Long, Xu Xin and Zhang Jike, and the trio overwhelmed Chinese Taipei 3-0 in their semi-final to keep their hopes of a 19th World Team Championships title alive. Ma Long helps China beat Chinese Taipei 3-0 to reach the men’s final.

Source: ITTF Table Tennis World Cup , Table Tennis trophy | edubilla.com Table Tennis World Cup ‹ › × History Of Table Tennis World Cup The 7 World Championship trophies, the highest tributes to excellence in our sport. These Cups have been hoisted high by the Champions of Champions, the elite of our sport. Doubtless there are many stories behind each of the sacred Cups, the sweat of incredibly hard and dedicated work to earn them, the tears of joy on the podium when dreams came true ... and the inspirational play, delighting fans worldwide for over 80 years. The Cups are held by the winning Table Tennis Association, and returned for the next World Championships. Let's look at the history of each of these Crown Jewels of Table Tennis. Swaythling Cup for Men's Team: Donated in 1926 byLady Baroness Swaythling, mother of the first ITTF President, Ivor Montagu. Corbillon Cup for Women's Team: Donated in 1933 by Marcel Corbillon, President of the French Table Tennis Association.

The German women's team won the Cup in 1939, but the original Cup disappeared during Berlin occupation after World War II. The Corbillon Cup is now a replica made in 1949. St. Bride Vase for Men's Singles: Donated in 1929 by C.Corti Woodcock, member of the exclusive St. Bride Table Tennis Club in London. After Fred Perry of England won the title in Budapest. Geist Prize for Women's Singles: Donated in 1931 by Dr. Gaspar Geist, President of the Hungarian Table Tennis Association. Iran Cup for Men's Doubles: First presented at the 1947 World Championships by the Shah of Iran. W.J. Pope Trophy for Women's Doubles: Donated in 1948 by the ITTF Honorary General Secretary W.J. Pope. Heydusek Cup for Mixed Doubles: Donated in 1948 by Zdenek Heydusek, Secretary of the Czechoslovakia Association. Egypt Cup: Egypt Cupis presented to the next host of world championships.

The Cup was donated by King Farouk of Egypt in 1939, when the championships was held in Cairo, Egypt. Table Tennis World Cup Archieve Men's singles Table Tennis: China retain World Team Championships titles in Tokyo - Sport Asia Tweet Updated: May 6, 2014 Left to right: Fan Zhendong, Wang Hao, Ma Long, coach Liu Guoliang, Zhang Jike and Xu Xin earned China a seventh straight World Team Championships men’s title. May 6, 2014: The top-seeded China men’s and women’s teams retained their titles at the World Team Championships in Tokyo with victories over Germany and hosts Japan respectively on Monday. The China men’s team comprised the world’s top three players – Ma Long, Xu Xin and Zhang Jike – but they didn’t have it all their own way in a 3-1 victory over the second seeds to claim the Swaythling Cup in front of a capacity crowd of 9,000 in Yoyogi Gymnasium. World No. 1 Ma raced to a strong start, the 25-year-old taking down No.

8 Timo Boll 3-0 (11-6, 11-9, 11-9). Dimitrij Ovtcharov then brought Germany back into the match as the World No. 4 won 3-0 (13-11, 11-8, 11-6) against Zhang, the reigning Olympic and world champion, which marked the only individual match China lost in the tournament. However, Xu swept aside Patrick Franziska and Ma beat Ovtcharov in straight sets to secure China’s men their seventh straight World Team Championships win. Ma won the Victor Barna award for the most valuable player of the tournament, while Xu played down any alarm caused by Zhang’s loss to Ovtcharov. “Ma Long has not lost yet. His game is something to learn from,” said the 24-year-old Xu. “But since we’re a team, there’s no need to say that just because somebody lost, it means there’s a problem. The most important thing is for the Chinese team to keep on supporting each other and encouraging each other.” Boll, a former World No. 1, had described the Germany team as the strongest yet, but praised the victors.

“This is our strongest generation, but unfortunately for us this Chinese generation is also amazing,” Boll said. “There’s no shame losing to such strong players.” Left to right: Liu Shiwen, Zhu Yuling, Chen Meng, coach Kong Linghui, Ding Ning and Li Xiaoxiao celebrate China’s 3-0 win over Japan in the final. The China women’s team also comprised the world’s top three players in Liu Shiwen, Ding Ning and Li Xiaoxia, and they quietened the home fans by beating second seeds Japan 3-0. Kasumi Ishikawa, Yuka Ishigaki and Sayaka Hirano were unable to replicate their successful performance in Sunday’s semi-finals, when they came back from 1-0 down to defeat Hong Kong. The 23-year-old Ding, the 2011 World Championships winner, said: “Our players played our best, we won as a team, so I’m very happy about our victory.” Li, the 2012 Olympic champion, said that not even a 6.2-level earthquake that rocked Tokyo at 5.20am could stop the Chinese women from claiming the Corbillon Cup.

“I had not been sleeping well and the earthquake did not help,” Li said. “It was the biggest earthquake I ever experienced, so I panicked a little and didn’t dare move from my bed. I was glad when it was over.” Ishikawa, the side’s top-ranked player, said Japan were satisfied to make their first final in 31 years, especially in front of their home fans. “As a team of five we overcame difficult situations,” said the 21-year-old, currently World No. 10. “For example we came close to losing in the quarter-finals, but we won in the end, which gave us great confidence. We played as a team, with a big crowd giving us energy, and we played at our best.” At the end of the event, the local organisers handed over the International Table Tennis Federation flag to the next organisers in Suzhou, China, which will host the 2015 World Individual Championships from April 26-May 3. 5.7 Awards and Presentations - Regulations For World Championships 5.7 Awards and Presentations - Regulations For World Championships Description This article is from the Table Tennis (Ping Pong) FAQ , by ttennis@bu.edu with numerous contributions by others.

5.7 Awards and Presentations - Regulations For World Championships 5.7.1. The permanent Championship trophies shall be: 5.7.1.1 the Swaythling Cup for the men's team events; 5.7.1.2 the Marcel Corbillon Cup for the women's team events; 5.7.1.3 the St Bride Vase for the men's singles event; 5.7.1.4 the G Geist Prize for the women's singles event; 5.7.1.5 the Iran Cup for the men's doubles event; 5.7.1.6 the W J Pope Trophy for the women's doubles event; 5.7.1.7 the Heydusek prize for the mixed doubles event. 5.7.2 The Association whose team wins a team event, and the winner of an individual event, shall be entitled to hold the appropriate trophy until 31st December in the year following that in which it is won; the pair winning a doubles event shall agree or decide by lot the order in which each of them shall hold the trophy for half of the specified period.

5.7.3 A representative of the city in which the Championships is held shall be entitled to hold for the same period as for the Championships trophies the Egypt Cup, the symbol of the friendship of the Championships. 5.7.4 A player who wins the men's or women's singles event three times in succession or four times in all shall receive from the ITTF a half- size replica of the appropriate trophy as a permanent possession. 5.7.5 The Egypt Cup shall be handed over at the opening ceremony and the permanent trophies shall be presented at a closing ceremony to their respective holders for the ensuing period. 5.7.6 The Association whose team or player wins a trophy shall acknowledge its receipt in writing and shall deliver it, at the end of the specified period, to the place and at a time agreed with the Secretary-General and within fourteen days of a formal notification by him. 5.7.7 The Association acknowledging receipt of a trophy shall be responsible for its safe keeping including the arrangement of insurance, but the cost of insurance and of inscription of winners' names which in team events should include any non-playing captain, shall be borne by the ITTF.

5.7.8 If a trophy is lost while in the possession of an Association, that Association shall be responsible for the provision of a similar replacement. China Eyes Title Defense at Moscow Table Tennis Worlds China Eyes Title Defense at Moscow Table Tennis Worlds 2010-05-22 21:11:48 Xinhua Web Editor: Zhang Jin The Chinese table tennis team that won both the Swaythling Cup and the Corbillon Cup over the past four world team championships, is set to embark on its competition journey in Moscow on Sunday. The Chinese table tennis team that won both the Swaythling Cup and the Corbillon Cup over the past four world team championships, is set to embark on its competition journey in Moscow on Sunday. As many new faces have shown up in this year's men's and women's squads, one thing as much important as defending China's honor would be honing for the London Olympics two years from now. Besides, some major changes of game rules, scheduled to be discussed during the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) congress, are also highlighted because of their possible tremendous influence upon the 2012 Olympics.

POTENTIAL OLYMPIC YOUNGSTERS FACING CHALLENGES One pivotal alteration for the Chinese squads this year was the emergence of many young and comparatively inexperienced players, the majority of whom were less than 22 years old. The Moscow worlds would meanwhile become the debut for four out of 10 Chinese players who arrived in Moscow on Thursday. Liu Guoliang, head coach of the Chinese men's team, told Xinhua recently that "there are many young faces in the team this time, which may bring some uncertainties to results. But at the same time, it can also help us build a stronger team for the 2012 London Olympics." Liu also said they were ready for the possible difficulties during the championships. "Unexpected hardship can be encountered in any contest, but this time Chinese table tennis team has prepared for the possible difficulties," he said. On the women's part, current world No. 1 Liu Shiwen faced the task of leading her teammates to defend the championship without the help from her predecessors including Wang Nan and Zhang Yining. "I don't care who bears the flag for the Chinese women's national team. All I want is to defend the title with all the team working hard.

I'll try my best, of course," said Liu prior to her departure from Beijing. Shi Zhihao, head coach of the Chinese women's team, also fixed his eyes on defending the championship. "Undoubtedly the Chinese girls will meet strong rivals, but what matters most is that they should adjust their state of mind and try their best to win the trophy," he told Xinhua. Analysts said most severe challenges facing the Chinese male squad would possibly come from Germany, Japan and South Korea, while the girls were expected to clash with their counterparts from Singapore, South Korea, Japan and Chinese Hong Kong. Japanese "porcelain doll" Ai Fukuhara, in her pre-match declaration, vowed to "change the color of medals" for her national team. Japan has won four bronzes over the past four team worlds. RULES RESHUFFLE MAY AFFECT OLYMPIC TACTICS In addition to highly competitive matches, one thing to watch during the Moscow worlds would be a possible reshuffle of rules for singles that could become influential at the London Olympic Games.

The ITTF executive committee has been mulling over slashing the quota of Olympic single players from three to two, as well as putting singles ahead of team games during the Olympics. As a constant reformer of table tennis, ITTF President Adham Sharara told reporters earlier that such alterations were likely to be passed. Once the new rules come effective, said analysts, all countries would probably give a second thought to their future strategies when competing at the Olympic arena. Moscow is set to host the 50th world team table tennis championships from May 23 to May 30. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1971--2001 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1971--2001 By Tim Boggan (Copyright 2001) Also: Chapter VI: Sarajevo, 1973: Swaythling and Corbillon Cup Play As President of the USTTA, I was intent on following the progress of, and intense about rooting for, our U.S.

Teams--especially the Menï¿½s Team, for, though they finished 17th (as opposed to 28th in ï¿½71), they came within one very closely-contested tie of being elevated to the First Division. Such an advancement was very important to me, for I wanted to improve the Image of USA table tennis, wanted those in the real world of the Sport to take us seriously--and so back home I would champion both the coming of international players to our U.S. Open and an increase in prize-money at our tournaments. Though I would sometimes put in 15-hour days at the playing hall, and also because I would have to be away from the hall for some considerable time attending ITTF Meetings, I just couldnï¿½t cover, or always get someone to cover, many important matches. One event that lacked the coverage I would have liked to have given it was the 40-team Womenï¿½s Cup play, particularly the Championship play. However, let me at least say something about the results of these ties. Corbillon Cup In my last Chapter, I indicated how the U.S.

Womenï¿½s Team, after competing in the Second Division, came to be ranked World # 18. Now Iï¿½m going to briefly concern myself with the First Division teams theoretically in contention for the title. The format for choosing and separating these 14 teams would be the same for both Corbillon and Swaythling Cup play. The draw was based on the standings from the ï¿½71 Nagoya Worldï¿½s. Defending Champion Japan was seeded #1 and runner-up China #2. Into these opposite halves would be flipped #3 and #4, #5 and #6, #7 and #8, and so on, so that thereï¿½d be seven teams in two equally balanced Groups--1A and 1B. Yugoslavia, whoï¿½d not fielded a Womenï¿½s Team in Nagoya, found a place in Group B when, conveniently, last yearï¿½s #12 Cambodian team didnï¿½t come to Sarajevo.

It was quickly apparent that the weak teams in Group A were Austria (they would finish 0-6, winning 1 match out of 19) and Indonesia (1-5, winning 4 matches out of 22). In Group B, the weak teams were France, whom the U.S. had lost to in ï¿½71 (1-5, winning 5 matches out of 20), and Yugoslavia (1-5, winning 6 matches out of 24). The only surprise involving these non-contenders was when Yugoslav National Champ Mirjan Resler upset Swedenï¿½s National Champ Birgitta Radberg and forced the Sweden-Yugoslavia tie into the 5th.

(As Iï¿½d mentioned last time, our Patty Martinez in a practice match had Resler down 1-0 and 15-5 in the 2nd before allowing her to escape.) Actually, the only other tie in all these initial round robin matches that went into the 5th was in Group A when Hungary, the 9th-seeded team, downed the 1969 Champions, the USSR--a big win, for it allowed the Hungarians to join undefeated Japan for a place in the four-team final. Unfortunately, these last round robins were not so climactic because just as outclassed Hungary had to carry over its loss to Japan, so, from Group B, did China have to carry over its 3-1 loss to South Korea. Since the Japanese, too, were beaten 3-1 by the Koreans, their 3-2 loss to China did not, alone, devastatingly keep them from a repeat win.

But Chinaï¿½s retaliation, begun here for the loss it suffered in the ï¿½71 final to Japan, would be merciless--the lid would be closed on the victim, the coffin lowered, and there would be darkness for the rest of the century and beyond. The South Koreans, of course, enjoyed the moment--well, anyway, all of them but their titular non-playing Captain, one, Insook Na, later Bhushan, 11-time U.S. National Champion, who, disenchanted at not being able to play for this Team she felt she deserved to play for, would soon emigrate to play for another. But, as History will show, South Korea was about to bow to the Chinese, suffer the same fate as Japan. Two of their stalwarts here, Chung Hyun Sook, and Kim Soon Ok, would go on to win U.S. Opens. But South Korea would be finished for the millennium as World Champions...except for that strange political moment in ï¿½91 when they would unite with--rather say, momentarily join with--the North Koreans to take the winnerï¿½s trophy...where?

Swaythling Cup Iï¿½ll focus extensively here on the 14 First Division Swaythling Cup teams that, as in the Corbillon Cup, were divided into A and B groups. In the A Group, in ranking order, were China, Sweden, Hungary, South Korea, India, Indonesia, and Austria. The South Koreans, I was told, werenï¿½t better because their Association had far superior coaches for their girls than for their boys. On the first day of play, the ties ran true to form--with China beating India and Indonesia 5-0, and Sweden zeroing in on India and South Korea. The Koreans also lost, 5-3, to Hungary, whose mainstays were Tibor Klampar and Istvan Jonyer, the Defending World Doubles Champions. In marked contrast to their feminine counterparts, it would be 20-some years before the South Korean men, at their best, could place 3rd overall at these Championships. Here, in ï¿½73, they would drop three matches to both Indonesia (who would finish 5th in the Group) and Austria (6th).

As might be predicted, Indonesia and Austria would have a 5-4 battle to see whoï¿½d escape bringing up the rear next to hapless India. These three teams, originally the last three to be placed in the Group, would win only three ties altogether. The B Group consisted of Japan, Yugoslavia, West Germany, France, England, Czechoslovakia, and (taking North Koreaï¿½s place) the USSR whoï¿½d not sent a Menï¿½s Team to Nagoya. Here, as opposed to the A Group, there was more depth, and consequently more good matches--so the final results were not as easy to predict. The last three teams to be placed in this Group would win 10 ties. Iï¿½ll begin my detailed coverage with the beginning B ties. Japan opened by giving up only one match to France, a team that, aside from their great lobber, Jacques Secretin--who beat the ï¿½67 World runner-up Mitsuru Kohno--had little strength. Yugoslavia, too, lost one match--to West Germany.

Despite his Team Psychologistï¿½s guarded prediction that Yugoslavia would win the Cup, Dragutin Surbek did not look good. "The Dragon" was not burning, was not breathing fire. He not only lost to Wilfried Lieck (who would win the Menï¿½s Consolation over Praditï¿½s friend Wuvanich), but just barely got by Klaus Schmittinger, 19 in the 3rd. The USSR gave up a match to Englandï¿½s Renaissance dandy, Trevor Taylor, the Commonwealth Champion. Taylor almost did it to Anatoly Strokatov, 19 in the 3rd, but, on being encouraged by his mates, did troika down the Russian Champ Sarkis Sarkhayan. Against Germany, the best England could do was to come up short, 5-2. That awkward, arrogant-looking Lieck (squat stance like a flunkee out of some sneering Prussian finishing or fencing school) stopped both Taylor and Neale. Denis, however, downed ï¿½69 World runner-up Eberhard Scholer two straight.

Question: What was Hans Alser, former Swedish European Champ, now employed as coach/trainer for the German Team, doing to or for them? Answer: Poor Alser--he had a kidney attack and had to be taken away from the hall in an ambulance and abruptly put on a plane to some urological clinic in Frankfurt. Japan beat the USSR rather comfortably, for Stanislav Gomozkov wasnï¿½t any help--lost all three. Sarkis Sarkhayan had a good 3-game win over Nobuhiko Hasegawa--but I must say I thought the ï¿½67 World Champion just wasnï¿½t his old acrobatic self this tournament. Will he, like Shigeo Itoh, finalist at the last two Worldï¿½s, soon retire? To do what? The last Menï¿½s tie this opening day resulted in Czechoslovakiaï¿½s great 5-2 win over Yugoslavia. First, the Czechs won on sportsmanship. Jaroslav Kunz admitted to an unsure umpire that the racket rule applied--the ball had hit his hand.

And Milan Orlowski pointed out to an umpire whoï¿½d missed it that heï¿½d served a net against Surbek and so shouldnï¿½t be awarded the point. Kunz with his mid-western-Y jabs astonished me by beating Surbek and Stipancic--knocking them around and finally winning on points in the 3rd. It really was the limit. And to topspin it all off, Orlowski k.o.ï¿½d Karakasevic, Surbek, and Stipancic in straight games, which, though it stunned some Yugoslavs in the audience, didnï¿½t surprise the Russians. Bengtsson had once called Surbek a "typhoon, always ready to storm." Well, maybe. When the Czechs were leading the Yugoslavs 3-1, and Orlowski was up 1-0 and 18-12 on Surbek, the crowd began to clap and shout, "SURE-beck!"..."SURE-beck!" Hearing the crowd cheer him, he stormed back to 19-all--only to feel the force within him just as quickly subside when he pushed off, and lost at deuce.

At the finish of play that evening, the officials, having got a number of complaints, were painting out the distracting name "Surbek" from the table ends. "Surbek lost," a fellow said. "Thatï¿½s why theyï¿½re taking his name off the tables." That night, or rather early morning, Frank Pivec, the intense Czech Captain, or Coach (sometimes just one title is mutually applicable), was celebrating his victory with our ubiquitous Team Leader Bob Kaminsky up in our 2nd-floor deserted hallway when Sally and I walked past. Of course weï¿½d have a drink with them. The more Frank drank, the better he felt. He was sure his Country--or his Association--or his Club--would pay half the expenses, if we would pay the other half, to send the Czech Team to the next U.S. Open. He was so sure of this that we all drank to it. Finally he got up and went to his room. To come back suddenly with little gifts for Sally and me--a nice necklace with a medallion, and a pretty cut-glass ash tray.

I couldnï¿½t very well refuse him, but I kept thinking how in the morning, sober, he might wish he had these gifts for strangers he knew better. But then maybe for the rest of the tournament he wouldnï¿½t know any strangers any better than he knew us? And, well, itï¿½s always more blessed and more satisfying to give than to receive. Besides, what could be worse than bringing home presents youï¿½d hoped to please someone with? Friday morning when around 10 oï¿½clock I arrived at the hall to catch the best part of the Japan-Czechoslovakia tie, Kaminsky (wow! Iï¿½d left him drinking, how did he do it?--he never slept) had plopped himself right in the middle of the Czech rooters, right next to Pivec, who was beginning to suffer the anguish, maybe even the remorse of the damned. "You must win," he was saying with the most tormented look on his face.

"You MUST win!" And then (as the player in question went back, unable to try harder, despite his own desire, despite the words of his coach, because he was already trying as hard as he could), Frank bowed his head. Over and over again he said to himself, "You MUST win! You MUST win!" And for a moment, though Kohno killed Kunz, it was as if his prayer was answered--for the Czech #3, Josef Dvoracek, held on, 20 and 19, to beat Tokio Tasaka. And young Orlowski, fighting with racket and fist, outlasted the great Japanese defender Norio Takashima. (Once, when Takashima, maneuvering, gets the pick and takes a vicious swing at a hanger--and misses--he turns around to the Japanese bench. Not a muscle has moved in that row of faces. Theyï¿½re all nodding up and down approvingly--as if heï¿½s just hit in a winner. I wondered whether, after a while, it really would be reassuring to always get that same mechanical response. His teammates might begin to look punch-drunk.) But then Tasaka destroyed Kunz.

(Upset the Yugoslavs or anyone else with his faithful-dog of a game, Kunz still canï¿½t set his own pace and Tasaka can give him 5.) Then Kohno 21, 19 held off Orlowski-Pivec, much to the latterï¿½s near despair, for that was the match the Czechs had to have. Still, still, even after Takashima demonstrates that Dvoracek doesnï¿½t know to push a ball to a pick-hit defender, there is a chance. If Orlowski can beat Tasaka, and Kunz can beat Takashima, and Dvoracek can beat Kohno, then... Then all skeptics agree: There is a God. "You MUST win!"..."You MUST win!"...And Orlowski does. Now Kunz is up against Takashima. Pivec bows his head.... The 1st game Kunz gets 4. It is, of course, soon all over.

Pivec tries to explain to us, to himself...."In all of Czechoslovakia," he says, "there is no chopper." Later that afternoon, the valiant, 11th-seeded Czechs face the 6th-seeded Germans. Orlowski opens by losing to Jochen Leiss (who also beat Takashima and Kohno). then has to go 3 with the posturing Lieck (how seemingly absurd his flat-footed-position-at-the-ready is), and finally, 25-23 in the 3rd, barely beats Scholer, the ex-almost World Champion. After the Czechs are able to add two more wins--most notably Dvoracek over Leiss--the tie comes down to Kunz vs. Lieck in the deciding 9th. No longer a nice bulldog, Kunz will turn on that smiling, sneering Lieck who, racket held like a stick-at-the-hip-ready, keeps taunting him. Of course the image is absurd. Kunzï¿½s style wins for Czechoslovakia. Still, it was all the Czechs could do to 5-4 get by Germany.

Perhaps their players are as tired as Pivec? Or perhaps they already realize that they have no chance of later defeating the USSR team that will go in their stead to the Final Four. Germany can at least get the better of England and France. And England, though they canï¿½t beat Secretin, can beat France. Theyï¿½d done it before--indeed itï¿½d been their only argument for staying in the Premier Division of the European League. Thatï¿½s why later, in the next round robin for final ranking positions, theyï¿½d be so upset at losing to Austria. If they canï¿½t beat Austria, whoï¿½s just taken relegated Franceï¿½s place in that Premier Division, who can they beat? So--wow--theyï¿½d better quick-kick what could become a bad habit. Or else find someone responsible to kick. Ergo--Trevor Taylor. "The English Glenn Cowan," somebody called him.... Go pack it in, Trevor, mï¿½boy. I say, bloody bad show!

Thatï¿½s what the English Association in the person of Charlie Wiles, Wily Charles, Charles Wyles, or someone who hadnï¿½t played as many matches as Trevor had, must have said. (This is some game alright--you certainly can get tired of it.) Really, Trevor, itï¿½s your fault, you know. So you beat two Austrians...and, uh, Hasegawa and Yujiro Imano and Tasaka and Sarkhayan. Who else? Youï¿½re up, youï¿½re down. You lost to Schluter--so Schluter beat Kjell Johansson, does that make him a player?--and weï¿½ve lost to Austria. Weï¿½ve never lost to Austria, donï¿½t you understand that? Youï¿½ve gone and not tried enough, and now weï¿½ve lost to Austria! Youï¿½re all tired out, Taylor. Youï¿½ve had too many ups and downs. You look tired out. Iï¿½ll bet you donï¿½t eat right. What do you eat?

No, Taylor, you donï¿½t look good. Matter of fact, that long hair, I never did like the way you looked. I suppose you think, whatever it is you drink--or swallow--that you could have won the Commonwealth Coca-Cola Award too. Well, let me tell you, the only pause in your play thatï¿½s refreshing is this one. And I hope it lasts a long time. Why donï¿½t you go over to the States--join Cowan? Youï¿½d do just fine there.... Hey, what happened? Next thing you know Iï¿½ll be hearing Taylorï¿½s voice on the telephone. I think there was some voice from overseas or under the seas or somewhere that carried me away for a moment. But Iï¿½m alright now. Yes, I remember. I was in Yugoslavia...And so, unfortunately, during their afternoon tie with the Soviets, were the Yugsolavs. The USSR, you may remember, had lost only one match--to the very strong Japanese. And Yugoslavia, who had yet to play undefeated Japan, already had a loss to Czechoslovakia.

So the home team had to win this one to keep its hopes of advancement alive. The very exciteable penholder Milivoj Karakasevic starts the ball rolling. He loses in straight games to Sarkhayan. Then, as Stipancic is getting ready to play Strokatov, the Kent girl comes parading by again--much like a too-early-in-the-game-to-get-excited cheerleader--and the crowd applauds. Itï¿½s not for her, though. In fact, everyoneï¿½s pretty tired of seeing her walk back and forth. Especially since she doesnï¿½t have any cigarettes, doesnï¿½t have any tray. Going back and forth unenthusiastically like that, what is she here for? Stipancic responds to the applause, beats Strokatov. The Yugoslav flag waves, and there is more applause. As Surbek comes out to play Gomozkov (The Dragon looks so much bigger out there at the table than he does in real life around the hotel), people begin yelling, "RAW-meat!"..."RAW-meat!" Or thatï¿½s what it sounded like to me on this or some other occasion.

Of course I associate "RAW-meat" with Surbek, "The Tiger of Zagreb," and his animal-like vitality. So if thatï¿½s really what the crowd shouted--which of course it isnï¿½t--then Surbek ought to eat up Gomozkov. Unless...say, how good is Gomozkov anyway? In Stephan Kjuicï¿½s The Will To Win, Surbek lists Gomozkov as one of the top 10 players in the world. Says heï¿½s the "grandmaster of the backhand" (which reflects, by the way, the interest in chess in Yugoslavia, where there are something like 22,000 club members and 10 grandmasters). Says heï¿½s met Gomozkov in the finals of big tournaments and has only the thinnest 5-4 edge. So what happens this time? Surbek has a good chance to win--loses in 3. Spectators whistle--not a good sign. Stipancic, too, goes down--to Sarhayan. USSR 3--Yugoslavia 1.

But Karakasevic beats Gomozkov and, shaking his fist in the air, does a little dance around the table. Surbek can tie the tie with a win over Strokatov. Can he do it?...No.The hall fills with a prolonged whistling sound--the equivalent of a Greek Chorus. After Stipancic also fails--is beaten by Gomozkov--the whistles will stop, and the crowd will disappear, along with their home-team hopes. But perhaps not all the spectators will know what the Yugoslav players do--that their last significant tie with Japan doesnï¿½t matter in regard to their advancement. Because even if they win it, can once-defeated Japan be hari-karied by Germany? Or the USSR fall far, far down to France? Not a chance. But, alright, to save face, the Yugoslavs come out to play. Earlier Iï¿½d asked Pavel Rotkiewicz, their Team Psychologist, why theyï¿½d lost that key tie to the Soviets. "Theyï¿½re overplayed," he said, without blinking an eye.

"They need rest." They need something--for Karakasevic and Stipancic lose all four of their initial matches. That something is Surbek--"The Indestructible, as Dusan "Dule" Osmanagic, the Yugoslav Team Captain, calls him. Or calls him that in Kljuicï¿½s book. And in fine acrobatic-lob form he is too, as seemingly by brute strength he outlasts all three of his Japanese opponents. So when Stipancic comes through against Tasaka, itï¿½s possible, isnï¿½t it, that Karakasevic will pull out the match, the tie, against Kohno?...Listen! Makes you want to whistle too, does it? Over in the A Group there isnï¿½t nearly as much drama. The Sweden-Hungary tie is critical for both undefeated teams though, because each of them figure to lose to Defending Champion China. Jonyer and Klampar, as expected, beat young Ingemar Wikstrom. And Bengtsson and Johansson, as expected, beat the Hungarian #3, Janos Borzsei.

But after Jonyer has lost to Johansson, and Klampar to Bengtsson, Sweden is up 4-2. However, if Jonyer can sidespin-slip-by just one of the Swedish Big Two, Hungary still has a chance. Vic Landau, covering this tie for me, speaks of how Bengtsson has a hard time controlling Jonyerï¿½s super spin balls, but that in the 3rd the Swedeï¿½s perfect corner to corner placements give him a 19-17 lead. At this point, both Vic and our U.S. Team Analyst, Dell Sweeris, agree that Stellan took a bad shot, which may have affected his usually very strong mental attitude, for, as Vic said, he seemed to soften, and Jonyer won all three remaining points. This would be Bengtssonï¿½s only loss in the Team Championship--and might well be a costly one. With Sweden leading 4-3, Johansson has to take down Klampar, for the Hungarian Borzsei is a favorite to beat the weaker Wikstrom if the tie goes into the 9th.

Hereï¿½s Landau on this match: "The Swede is ahead 11-4 in the first game when the ball breaks. Klampar catches him and wins 23-21. The second game is an even duel of top table tennis. At 19-19 there is a disputed edge ball. Both the umpire and scorekeeper agree the ball hit and award the point to Johansson. (I believe the ball hit because Klampar appeared to react to the ball in flight [that is, before it landed, he grimaced, or...what?]. Also, the volatile Hungarian coach, [Zoltan] Berczik, argued for only five minutes.) Johansson wins the next point and the game. Klampar, who had been playing extremely well, is not able to overcome the adversity and it shows. He is quickly down 10-2 and that is the game, match, and tie." I myself then heard that afterwards the Hungarians refused to shake hands with the Swedes. Two climactic ties remained--both involving China.

First, the Chinese took on the Swedes--with the threat hovering over them that, should they lose, even if they later beat Hungary, they would have to carry over that loss to Sweden in the final 4-team round robin. And China did lose--5-4. Reportedly it was the first tie theyï¿½d lost since Dortmund in ï¿½59. Liang Ko-liang, who in the last two years has been doing diplomatic duty the world over (are we to infer then that heï¿½s not been practicing as much as he should have?) didnï¿½t win a game, let alone a match. Landau stressed Bengtssonï¿½s superb backhand and said that the Swede was just too fast for Liang, formerly a defensive player but now primarily an attacker. Though not as good an attacker as Johansson who hammered away at him. And of course it was Liangï¿½s loss to Wikstrom (down 20-19 in the 1st, heï¿½d served off) that made a big difference.

The Swedes played Wikstrom rather than the older, more experienced Bo Persson because the smart money said that Perssonï¿½s nerves werenï¿½t so good? Johansson lost to both Hsu Shao-fa (the technique of his ceilingward serves makes for quite a twist when finally they come down) and Li Ching-kuang (who I think maybe hasnï¿½t got such good nerves himself). I heard Li had been sick, but sick of what I didnï¿½t hear. Bengtsson won all three--got by brutal blocker Li, 19 in the 3rd, and this, too, was a tie-altering win. China vs. Hungary would determine the other advancee to the final. Hungaryï¿½s super loopers could again win only one of four crucial encounters--though sad-faced Klampar lost a very tough 22-20, 23-21 match to Tiao Wen-yuan, the excitable Chinese Champion.

The big surprise of this China 5-Hungary 2 tie was the defeat of Hsi En-ting, not so much at the hands of Jonyer but at the steady defensive play of Borzsei. Some #3, eh? Unfortunately, neither Landau nor I can report on the USSRï¿½s 5-4 defeat of undefeated Sweden, but I presume the Sovietï¿½s depth did in the Swedish #3. Sweeris, in his Analystï¿½s Report for Topics, suggested that the public address announcer might have unwittingly been to blame for the loss. Sweden, after beating China, was leading the USSR 4-3 when over the loudspeaker the announcement was made that the Swedes would hold a Press Conference immediately after the tie. Dell thought this distracted the players from their task at hand. Nor do Landau or I have any detail on Chinaï¿½s surprising 5-4 battle with the USSR, whoï¿½d had to carry over their 5-2 loss to Japan. However, Vic did cover the China-Japan tie, and I the last, Sweden-Japan tie--both with their questionable consequences.

Here are some of Vicï¿½s comments on the China-Japan semifinal: "In the first game Tiao has difficulty hitting through Takshimaï¿½s fine chop defense," and "Takashima is able to break up his opponentï¿½s attack with occasional quick kill shots from either wing." But, after rallying from 18-15 down in the 2nd, Tiao goes on to win. "Li Ching-kuang blocks Tasaka off the table 21-12 in the first game," but in the second, though up 19-16 and serving, he canï¿½t close the match. "In the 3rd game, Tasaka starts like a madman," and his kills and counter-kills allow him to come out a winner. China 1-Japan 1. From the first point on, "Hasegawa is using his famous high lob defense to return Hsuï¿½s kill shots. As the game progresses, it becomes apparent that his defensive style should not be effective against this fine attacker.

Nevertheless, Hasegawa...is spectacularly returning 7 or 8 of Hsuï¿½s kill shots from the barrier and then even more sensationally counter-killing...as [winning 21-16] he plays his best game of the tournament." The Chinese are not smiling...but they will be. Hsu wins the second at 12. "In the rubber game Hasegawa is like a newly tightened spring and is flying all over the court until [itï¿½s] 11-all. Then, unbelievably, he loses 9 points in a row and the match. But it is no surprise that, win or lose, many consider him the most exciting player of his time." "Tiao and Tasaka split their first two games in a sharp, close-to-the-table counter-drive match. Tasaka, as he was against Li, is hot in the third game and wins 21-7." "Hsu cannot really hit through Takashimaï¿½s defense and is thus relegated to pushing and picking.

Takashima wins the first 21-19." When the Japanese is up 20-17 match point in the second, the Expedite Rule is put in. "One kill shot by Takashima and the match is over." Though Hasegawa rallies from down 1-0 and 13-7 "with a series of sensational counter-kill spin shots" to get back into the match, "he canï¿½t maintain such a pace in the third game and Li wins 21-13." Japan 3--China 3. Tasaka either blasts in winners or he doesnï¿½t. His third game with Hsu "is a great counter-driving match" until from 9-all Hsu "wins 8 in a row and the match." "Both Hasegawa and Tiao look more than a little tired" as each starts his third match of the tie "at 12:40 a.m. Hasegawa is playing closer to the table...and wins the first game 22-20." After losing the next, he gets a "second wind and wins the crucial [third]."Japan 4--China 4.

If China were to lose this last match of the tie, they would of course have two tie losses, and so would have no chance to win the title. However, if undefeated Japan were to lose this last match and tie and so have only the one loss, they, too, would have no chance to win the title. Why? Weï¿½ll see in a moment. Last up are Li and Takashima. "Li is hitting from side to side and then dropping the ball short. However, Takashima is returning one ball after another, including all the drop shots." Up 19-16, he "hits for the first time and is ahead 20-16," wins it at 17. Now there is "much frenetic talking between Li and his coaches." "Li starts off pushing in the second game, apparently going for the Expedite Rule. However, after the first few points Li drops this tactic and starts the strenuous work of trying to hit through Takashimaï¿½s now near-perfect defense. 11-all, 15-15, 18-18.

Takashima is returning nearly every ball with the finest chop retrieve Iï¿½ve ever seen. (Dick Miles said that it resembled Bergmannï¿½s reknowned retrieve.) Li, however, is blasting away one after another and wins 21-18." In the third game, though Li "has to hit five to ten or more drives intermixed with an occasional drop shot to win the point," heï¿½s up 15-10...then 20-15 match point. "An eerie silence pervades the arena....20-16, 20-17. ï¿½Letï¿½ the umpire calls at 20-18....The Expedite Rule is to come into effect. Li serves and it is quickly 20-19. Takashima serves and Li rolls nine balls before Takashima comes up to the table and cracks his forehand, a real winner, the force of the swing carrying him down, down, down. But Li miraculously blocks the ball back to win the match for China, and then runs around to lift Takashima off the floor to the cheers of a standing ovation.

A dramatic ending to a five hour and twenty minute struggle." Of course the final tie--the Japan-Sweden tie--still has to be played. And by now some strong criticism of this new round-robin format is understandably being expressed. In the ï¿½71 Worldï¿½s at Nagoya, the round robin winners of each of the two brackets played off and there was a clear-cut victory. Here, though China wasnï¿½t even playing in the final tie, it was still possible for China to back into winning the Championship. For if the Swedes (who earlier had lost 5-4 to the USSR) would lose to Japan, they would have (like the USSR) two losses and so couldnï¿½t win the title. However, even if the Japanese beat the Swedes in this final tie, and thus would have only one loss (like China), they couldnï¿½t win the title, for then theyï¿½d be tied 2-1 with China, and, since China had beaten them, theyï¿½d lose via the tie-breaker system.

Suspicious people (whose idea was this new round robin format anyway?) were publicly voicing all sorts of speculations about this state of affairs. For instance, did China earlier deliberately dump to Sweden? (Or, take it at least one chess step further, did they plan to beat Russia precisely 5-4?) Granted Liang Ko-liang (whom I thought might win the Nagoya Worldï¿½s) had a sea change from defense to offense, did that really account for his very poor showing against the Swedes? And serving off at 20-19 to lose that game against Wikstrom--what was that, carelessness, or...? Pavel, The Psychologist, had asked me, "Liang can play Orientals, but can he play Europeans?" As if I knew. Pavelï¿½s opinion was that the Chinese shouldnï¿½t have played Liang. Maybe he thought they shouldnï¿½t have changed his game. Maybe--the height of folly--he thought the Chinese didnï¿½t know what they were doing. But let me be fanciful.

Just suppose that China (pursuing their "Friendship First, Competition second" theme to a desired end) didnï¿½t want to win this Team Championship (though theyï¿½d not lost a single tie since 1959). And suppose they didnï¿½t want Japan to win it either. For whatever reason--perhaps because it might generate more interest in the Sport (and thus Chinaï¿½s supremacy) if Europeans, after a 20-year drought, would be Champions. But the dumping would have to be done subtly, diplomatically. The Chinese would have to pretend--through three 5-4 ties--that their players werenï¿½t really so good. And that would "fix" Japan. But what if Japan should win this last tie against Sweden, and China would back into the Championship? Well, the Chinese could live with that too. Suspicions that all might not be on the up and up lay curled, ready to strike, in such a thought as I heard this fellow voice: "The Japanese now have their choice of Chinese yuan or Swedish crowns." "Ah," said another, "but youï¿½d never get Hasegawa to throw a match.

Heï¿½d commit hari-kari first--as, in fact, he was rumored to be determined to do back in ï¿½67 if the Japanese didnï¿½t beat the Yugoslavs." So that was why he wasnï¿½t playing in this final tie--because he was incorruptible? Or was it, as most sane people thought, that his record against the Swedes wasnï¿½t all that good? Or was it something else? That he was getting old and, considering the all-out tumbling game he persisted in playing, he hadnï¿½t the necessary endurance any more? Enough speculation. Letï¿½s get on with the reality of this final tie and crown the undisputed winner. Swedish cheerleaders are stationed in different sections of the balcony. They give Persson encouragement. Uh-huh, though it was Wikstrom who beat Liang, the Swedes are playing Persson--but youï¿½re not going to catch me asking why.

The Swede wins the 1st, then Takashima figures out what to do with that high, slow loop coming at him--he comes darting in and cracks enough backhands through to make Persson look at his coach. But what is Christer Johansson or anyone else to tell him? That Takashima will win in 3? Johansson, forever expressionless, except when, face distorted, he smashes into the ball, has no trouble with Kohno. Sweden 1--Japan 1. Bengtsson, out there in the 3rd against Tasaka, is hurrying back and forth, raising his fists, shaking them. Down 14-12, Tasaka serves off, and Bengtsson runs it to 18-12...and then out. The less said about the Kohno-Persson match the better. The Swedes couldnï¿½t have done worse playing Wikstrom, could they? Ah, but Persson had gone to Japan to train--had learned how to beat the the Japanese in practice. But Bengtsson-Takashima--thatï¿½s beautiful.

The World Champion out there dancing, dancing, in contrast to Takashima, who once, stretching for a retrieve, takes a nasty fall. Sweden 3, Japan 2. Tasaka looks like an ascetic whoï¿½d commit some ultimate religious act--but not because of Johansson. No reason to kill himself over this match--heï¿½s a winner. Bengtsson, meanwhile, has gone behind the wings to practice perfecting his topspin. That is, after heï¿½s changed everything from his socks to his shirt. "Freshness is everything," says Pavel in another pronouncement thatï¿½s suspect. Kohno gets maybe 13 a game. So itï¿½s Sweden 4, Japan 3 and the Takashima-Johansson match that will decide the tournament ought to be a joy forever. But, first, Persson-Tasaka. "Perssonï¿½s the biggest bottler in the business," says Englandï¿½s Denis Neale.

"Iï¿½ve never even seen him win a game." Meanwhile, from 18-all in the 1st, he and Tasaka are playing some of the most marvelous points of the tournament. Finally the Swedeï¿½s successful when Tasaka serves into the net. During the 2nd game, Neale says, "Perssonï¿½s so bottled up he doesnï¿½t even look at the score. Itï¿½s his only chance." And, yes, Tasakaï¿½s 19-17 up. But then he fails to return Perssonï¿½s serve--19-18. And fails to return another--19-all. And now Persson gets the match-point ad. Only...he fails to return serve. But then, moments later, heï¿½s running, leaping, screaming into the arms of his World Champion teammates. And, cradled, is thrown high into the air--like one of those serves in the hands of the artful Chinese. I turn to Pavel. "Howï¿½d you like the final?" I ask him. "I think it was not quite correct," he says.

table tennis | sport | Britannica.com Table tennis golf Table tennis, also called (trademark) Ping-Pong, ball game similar in principle to lawn tennis and played on a flat table divided into two equal courts by a net fixed across its width at the middle. The object is to hit the ball so that it goes over the net and bounces on the opponent’s half of the table in such a way that the opponent cannot reach it or return it correctly. The lightweight hollow ball is propelled back and forth across the net by small rackets (bats, or paddles) held by the players. The game is popular all over the world. In most countries it is very highly organized as a competitive sport, especially in Europe and Asia, particularly in China and Japan . China’s Wang Nan competing in a women’s table tennis match at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Ramzi Haidar—AFP/Getty Images History The game was invented in England in the early days of the 20th century and was originally called Ping-Pong, a trade name. The name table tennis was adopted in 1921–22 when the old Ping-Pong Association formed in 1902 was revived.

The original association had broken up about 1905, though apparently the game continued to be played in parts of England outside London and by the 1920s was being played in many countries. Led by representatives of Germany , Hungary, and England, the Fédération Internationale de Tennis de Table ( International Table Tennis Federation) was founded in 1926, the founding members being England, Sweden , Hungary, India, Denmark, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria , and Wales. By the mid-1990s more than 165 national associations were members. The first world championships were held in London in 1927, and from then until 1939 the game was dominated by players from central Europe, the men’s team event being won nine times by Hungary and twice by Czechoslovakia. In the mid-1950s Asia emerged as a breeding ground of champions, and from that time the men’s team event has been won by either Japan or China, as has the women’s event, though to a lesser extent; North Korea also became an international force.

In 1980 the first World Cup was held, and Guo Yuehua of China won the $12,500 first prize. Table tennis became an Olympic sport in 1988, with singles and doubles competition for men and women. The game croquet Table tennis equipment is relatively simple and inexpensive. The table is rectangular, 9 feet by 5 feet (2.7 metres by 1.5 metres), its upper surface a level plane 30 inches (76 cm) above the floor. The net is 6 feet (1.8 metres) long, and its upper edge along the whole length is 6 inches (15.25 cm) above the playing surface. The ball, which is spherical and hollow, was once made of white celluloid . Since 1969 a plastic similar to celluloid has been used. The ball, which may be coloured white, yellow, or orange, weighs about 0.09 ounce (2.7 grams) and has a diameter of about 1.6 inches (4 cm).

The blade of a racket , or bat, is usually made of wood, is flat and rigid, and may be covered with a thin layer of ordinary stippled, or pimpled, rubber, which may be laid over a thin layer of sponge rubber and may have the pimples reversed. Whatever combination is used, each of the two sides of a paddle must be different in colour. The racket may be any size, weight, or shape. Serve Sports: Fact or Fiction? A match consists of the best of any odd numbers of games, each game being won by the player who first reaches 11 points or who, after 10 points each, wins two clear points ahead. A point is scored when the server fails to make a good service, when either player fails to make a good return, or when either player commits a specified infraction (e.g., touches the playing surface with a free hand while the ball is in play). Service changes hands after every two points until 10-all is reached, when it changes after every subsequent point.

Britannica Stories Scientists Ponder Menopause in Killer Whales The serve is made from behind the end of the table, the server tossing the ball upward from the palm of the free hand and striking it as it descends so that it first bounces on the server’s own court and then, passing over the net, bounces on the opponent’s court. In serving, no spin may be imparted to the ball by the fingers. This was not always so. Finger spin, especially in the United States , reached a stage where the experts could produce untakable services and the game became farcical. Finger spin was universally banned in 1937. Interest to the spectator lies in observing the ability of one player to defeat another by well-thought-out strategy. Increasing the speed of the game, slowing it down, varying the direction of or imparting different spin or pace to the ball, and employing gentle drop shots over the net when the opponent is out of position are some of the tactics that may be used to support the strategy planned. Slow or defensive play at one time was so dominant that, at the 1936 world championships in Prague, an hour was needed to decide a single point. Play is now restricted.

If a game is unfinished 15 minutes after it has begun, the rest of that game and the remaining games of the match proceed under the Expedite System. Thereafter if the service and 13 following strokes of the server are returned by the receiver, the server loses the point. The service changes after each point. Table tennis may be played with one player at each end of the table or with two players at each end who may be both men or both women or one of each. Worldwide, the women’s game is comparable in organization to the men’s, and women take part in world championships and all other organized events. Table tennis as well as being fully organized is also extremely popular as a recreational game and is so played in all types of sports clubs, social clubs, and game rooms, in the home, and even out-of-doors when conditions are reasonably calm. Winners of select table tennis championships Connect with Britannica Table Tennis - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) One of the fastest-moving indoor sports is table tennis, also known as Ping-Pong (an imitation of the sound made by the ball striking the table and hollow vellum battledores used in the early 1900s).

The game is played with a celluloid ball and a paddle or racket. The racket may be of any size, shape, or weight, but its surface must be dark in color and matte, with the blade made of wood. The blade can be covered by sandpaper, leather, or cork but is most often covered by "pimpled" rubber. The rubber provides for increased spin and ball control. Competitors play on opposite sides of a table bisected by a low net. Article Contributors

Question: The Swaythling Cup for men and the Corbillon Cup for women are the World Team Championships in which racket sport?
Answer: TABLE TENNIS