The history and origins of table tennis
The history of ping pong
Table tennis, a leisure activity and an Olympic sport since 1988, is also known as “ping pong”. Although excluded from official terminology, this name is very popular today. It comes from an onomatopoeia that appeared in the Far East in 1884: “ping” for the sound of the ball hitting the racket and “pong” for the sound of the bounce on the table. Interested in the history of table tennis? Discover how it developed and spread over time.
The origins of ping pong
Table tennis appeared in England at the end of the 19th century. Inspired by lawn tennis, its first players belonged to Victorian bourgeois society. The first game is said to have been played with a champagne cork as a ball, cigar boxes as rackets and books for the net. At that time, table tennis was seen as a simple pastime for the wealthy classes. In 1890, Englishman David Foster, drawn by its great popularity, introduced the first tennis game played on a table. In 1897, the first national championships were held in Hungary. After a trip to the United States, James Gibb brought back the first celluloid ball in 1901, much lighter than rubber balls. A year later, in 1902, E.C. Gould, a British enthusiast of the game, introduced the first rackets covered with rubber and rubber pimples. The history of table tennis had begun!
The first tournaments and championships
Following the success of the first public tournaments at London’s Queen’s Hall, the first official world championship took place in 1902. The discipline kept growing, and the British Table Tennis Federation was created. The first European Championships were then held in 1907. Everything accelerated in the 1920s. The Table Tennis Association was created in England in 1921, followed by the International Federation in 1926. World Championships between countries took place in London in 1926, and the French Table Tennis Federation came into being in 1927. The French took part for the first time in Budapest in 1929. The history of table tennis is marked by many champions, such as Austrian-British Richard Bergmann, Franco-Polish Aloizy Ehrlich and Romanian Angelica Rozeanu.
The rise of table tennis in Asia
In the 1950s, table tennis became an integral sport in Asian countries. The Japanese made their mark at the world team championships between 1954 and 1959. This dominance was strengthened by the introduction of sponge, which transformed classic rackets. Japan produced several world champions such as Hiroji Sato and stood out with impressive results in Tokyo in 1956. The 1960s saw the arrival of Chinese supremacy, with Zhuang Zedong, three-time world champion in 1961, 1963 and 1965. It was at this time that ping pong diplomacy developed, helping to improve Sino-American relations. In 1977, at the World Championships in Birmingham, the first thrown serve, also known as the “Chinese serve”, was used. The serve became a strategic element, whereas before it had been seen as simply putting the ball into play. Asia’s place in the history of table tennis has been truly decisive.
It was in this context of table tennis spreading to the general public that Cornilleau developed and made its first table tennis tables. The family company industrialized its expertise to meet the enthusiasm of the time and growing demand.
Table tennis today
Table tennis has been an Olympic sport since the 1988 Games in Seoul. The first gold medals went to China’s Chen Jing and Korea’s Yoo Nam-kyu. The discipline gradually became professional with the arrival of the Pro Tour in 1996. Play has been dominated by Asian players since 1995, such as Wang Liqin, three-time world champion and world number 1 for many years. Table tennis is now the most played sport in Asia. In Europe, its champions include Belgium’s Jean-Michel Saive, Germany’s Timo Boll and Denmark’s Michael Maze. In 2016, the Chinese players Ma Long, Fan Zhendong, Xu Xin and Zhang Jike and Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov topped the world rankings. In 2005, the number of players worldwide was estimated at more than 260 million. The International Table Tennis Federation brings together more than 200 nations and 33 million licensed players. Competitions, club tournaments and championships are held all over the world. In June 2020, France had 201,548 licensed players. Today, interest in table tennis keeps evolving, driven by the many benefits of regular play.
Table tennis equipment
Table tennis relies on simple equipment: a table, rackets and balls. Indoor tables are best for gentle play inside. Outdoor tables, much stronger and more resistant, are ideal for playing outside without risk of damage. Cornilleau protective covers add extra protection. For professionals, competition tables offer unbeatable sturdiness. Foam rubber rackets with a surface layer provide precision and control. For beginners, experienced players and professionals alike, many models of balls exist to suit every game. The history of table tennis is rich in change, and today it keeps bringing together players from all backgrounds.
FAQ: the history of table tennis
What is ping pong diplomacy?
Ping pong diplomacy refers to a major historical episode of the 1970s in which table tennis exchanges between the United States and China helped normalize diplomatic relations between the two countries. In 1971, the American table tennis team was invited to China, paving the way for President Nixon’s official visit to Beijing in 1972. This episode shows the unifying power of table tennis far beyond sport itself.
Why is Cornilleau part of the history of table tennis?
Cornilleau is an independent French family company with an 80-year history that has been making table tennis tables since 1969. It industrialized its expertise as table tennis grew worldwide. Today the European leader in outdoor table tennis tables, Cornilleau continues to write the history of table tennis in France and around the world through its innovations and French manufacturing.
