| In spite of the fact that there are actually table tennis | | | | meant as satire because of the fact that nobody took |
| tournaments all over the world, especially in China | | | | the game seriously.Between 1905 and 1910 the game |
| where table tennis is a major sport, the game itself isn't | | | | became very popular in Europe until it finally made its |
| really taken seriously by many people. We could | | | | way to Japan, China and Korea where table tennis |
| debate on the why of this until our sun goes nova but | | | | has become a way of life. Today, more than 4 million |
| we'll leave that debate for another time.Table tennis, or | | | | people in China alone play table tennis and it is seen as |
| what we affectionately refer to as "ping pong", began | | | | a very serious and competitive sport.In the meantime, |
| as a mild diversion. It was viewed with the same lack | | | | after finding its way to the Asian countries, table tennis |
| of seriousness as lawn tennis and badminton. It | | | | started to fade from the European scene but in the |
| became popular in England in the late 19th century. It | | | | early 1920s it was again revived in England. By that |
| was known under its present name of table tennis and | | | | time the name "ping pong" had actually become a |
| ping pong as well as gossima and whiff-whaff. The | | | | registered trademark of the game. However, the term |
| name ping pong was introduced by J. Jaques and | | | | table tennis was still retained for the more serious |
| Sons. The game was named ping pong because of | | | | organizations where table tennis was actually played |
| the sound that the ball made when striking the table | | | | for sport.Over the next 60 years table tennis actually |
| when hit. At the time ping pong paddles were not yet | | | | developed into a world wide sport but never really got |
| invented. Instead they used vellum bats. In a very short | | | | the recognition that other major sports had gotten |
| time the game became a very fashionable craze. | | | | during the time except in the Asian countries. The |
| During the period, there were many paintings made of | | | | game itself has remained relatively the same since the |
| people playing table tennis, usually in a home setting.By | | | | early days with the exception of the vellum bats being |
| the early 1900s, table tennis had already started to | | | | replaced by what we call ping pong paddles. The |
| take on many of the characteristics of the game that | | | | paddles themselves have gone through a few |
| we know and love today. However, it was still seen by | | | | modifications as far as materials they are made out of |
| most people as after dinner entertainment rather than | | | | but for the most part have remained unchanged from |
| as a serious sport. During this period publications found | | | | their early days.Table tennis may never get the |
| it necessary to warn people about what kind of attire | | | | respect that some say it deserves, but most people |
| they should wear when playing this game, such as not | | | | who play it do admit that it is a lot of fun, and also very |
| to wear tight fitting clothing. These were obviously | | | | hard. |