My name is Aupal Emmanuel, and today i will introduce you to my sport; Table Tennis.
Brief Info about the Sport:
Table Tennis, as popularly known as pingpong, is the fastest racket sport in the world that is played up to Olympic Level. In order to play Table Tennis, it requires just a few equipment; A Table, a net, a racket, a ball, and ofcourse an indoor facility that is suitable for the sport. Table Tennis is played by two people, each positioned on one side of the table, hitting a light weightball across the table. This category of play that involves two people is called "Singles". The sport can also be played by four people, and this is called "Doubles" where two people are positioned on each side of the table. The rules are quite different for each of these events. The sport can be played by both genders; Male and female. The Scoring is pretty simple. The first player to make 11 points in best of 3 (3 rounds), or best of 5 or 7, depending on what is decided wins the game. The idea is to win all rounds or at least 2/3 lets say its best of 3. Normally, for the Olympics, it is always best of 7. Fun fact is that it has no timing, you can play till someone wins, so it could take more than an hour or so It is fun to watch though but you have to be so keen because of how fast the ball goes.
Personal Experience:
I started playing Table Tennis, way back in 2013, that is 12 years ago from the time this article is being written and that was in my Senior Two, in Jinja College. When i joined secondary school/ High School, i used to see students play the sport on a wooden table. Fast forward, i got to learn the basics of the sport and in 2015, i got selected to represent the school in the Ball 1 Games of the Uganda Secondary School Association (USSA) Games. I then left Jinja College for Nakasongola SSS for my advanced level, and unfortunately at this school, table tennis was not played. So, i took an unitended hiatus. I resumed playing Table Tennis in my first year of University in 2018, and that was 3 years later. I immediately joined the University team, and i was selected that year to represent my University and country in Dodoma, Tanzania in December,2018. I then continued playing and in 2019, i became captain of the Sport and the University men's team, and i led the University to a Bronze finish in 2019 at the 18th Association of Uganda University Sports (AUUS) National University Games in Kisubi, Uganda. This achievement climaxed my active Table Tennis playing career before i diverted to administration. I really fell in love with the sport immediately i got to see it and how it is played. I thought it was very easy to play but turns out so many techniques are needed to play the sport and win it. Usually, the serving technique at times win you a game. If you are reading this, I encourage you to learn as the game is easy to learn, easy to start, and ofcourse helps you keep active.
Why is Table Tennis so special:
In a few words, the ball can travel over 100 km/h. Anyone can play, from kids to seniors, and ofcourse it is a "mind game" as much as physical. A healthy benefit is that it improves your fitness, mental sharpness but also life skills like coordination.
Popularity of Sport:
Table tennis is truly a global sport, with 227 member countries (or national associations) officially registered under the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)—making it one of the most widely represented international sports federations in the world. In Africa, all 54 nations are part of the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), and they too are included in that total. When it comes to dominance on the world stage, China stands head and shoulders above the rest in both men's and women's competitions, consistently winning most major international titles. Following behind China, countries like Germany, Japan, and South Korea regularly rank among the elite—particularly in men's events—with Germany often viewed as the top contender from outside Asia, and Japan and South Korea showing strong performances in both men's and women's categories.
In South Korea, the brightest star in men’s table tennis is Jang Woo-jin, who reached a career-high world ranking of No. 8 and remains the top male contender for the country.
Courtesy Photo.
On the women's side, Shin Yu-bin, with a peak ranking of No. 7 and a current standing near No. 17, leads the national team and continues to make her mark on the international scene.
Courtesy Photo.
Table Tennis is my passion. What is yours?
You've definitely reignited my interest for this sport with your good write-up. Thank you for sharing 🏓 😊
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