Table tennis, also known as ping-pong and whiff-whaff, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight ball, also known as the ping-pong ball, back and forth across a table using small solid rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net. Except for the initial serve, the rules are generally as follows: players must allow a ball played toward them to bounce once on their side of the table and must return it so that it bounces on the opposite side at least once. A point is scored when a player fails to return the ball within the rules. Play is fast and demands quick reactions. Spinning the ball alters its trajectory and limits an opponent's options, giving the hitter a great advantage.
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) is the governing body for all national table tennis associations. The role of the ITTF includes overseeing rules and regulations and seeking technological improvement for the sport of table tennis. The ITTF is responsible for the organization of numerous international competitions, including the World Table Tennis Championships that has continued since 1926. In reaction to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the ITTF banned Russian and Belarusian players and officials from its competitions.
Achanta Sharath Kamal is an Indian professional table tennis player. He is the first Indian table tennis player ever to become ten times Senior National Champion hence breaking the record of eight times National Champion Kamlesh Mehta. In 2019 he was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award.
Mouma Das is an Indian table tennis player. Born and brought up in Kolkata, West Bengal, she has represented India in international events since the early 2000s. Das has won multiple medals at the Commonwealth Games including a gold in the Women's Team Competition in 2018. She was awarded the Arjuna Award, India's second highest sporting honour in 2013 for her contributions to the sport.
The World Table Tennis Championships are table tennis competitions sanctioned by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). The World Championships have been held since 1926, biennially since 1957. Five individual events, which include men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's double and mixed doubles, are currently held in odd numbered years. The World Team Table Tennis Championships, which include men's team and women's team events, were first their own competition in 2000. The Team Championships are held in even numbered years.
The 8th World Table Tennis Championships were held in Paris from December 2 to 10, 1933. The Championships were held in December 1933 but are officially listed as the 1934 Championships.
The 1936 World Table Tennis Championships were held in Prague from March 12 to March 18, 1936.
The 1938 World Table Tennis Championships were held in London from January 24 to January 29, 1938. The pool stages were held at the Royal Albert Hall with the finals at the Wembley Empire Pool and Sports Arena.
The 1947 World Table Tennis Championships were held in Paris from February 25 to March 7, 1947.
The 1950 World Table Tennis Championships were held in Budapest from January 29 to February 5, 1950.
The 1953 World Table Tennis Championships were held at the Floreasca and Dynamo Halls in Bucharest from March 20 to March 29, 1953.
The 1957 World Table Tennis Championships were held in Stockholm from March 7 to March 15, 1957.
The 1959 World Table Tennis Championships were held in Dortmund from March 27 to April 5, 1959.
The 1967 World Table Tennis Championships were held at the Johanneshovs Isstadion in Stockholm from April 11 to April 21, 1967.
The 1971 World Table Tennis Championships (31st) were held in Nagoya from March 28 to April 7, 1971.
The 1975 World Table Tennis Championships were held in Calcutta, India, The entire tournament was held at the newly constructed Netaji Indoor Stadium, from 6 February – 16 February 1975.
The 1977 World Table Tennis Championships were held in Birmingham at the then newly opened National Exhibition Centre, from March 28 to April 7, 1977.
The 1987 World Table Tennis Championships were held in New Delhi, India. the event was held from 19 February to 1 March 1987.
The 2000 World Team Table Tennis Championships were held in Kuala Lumpur from February 19 to February 26, 2000. The Team Championships were originally part of the 1999 World Championships program scheduled to be held in Belgrade, Yugoslavia but were postponed after the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War in March 1999.
Tomokazu Harimoto is a Japanese table tennis player. In 2018, he won the 2018 World Junior Singles and Team Title at the ITTF 2018 World Junior Championship for Japan. The previous players to win the title were Kenta Matsudaira, Koki Niwa, and Jun Mizutani (Teams).
