Table tennis, also known as ping-pong and whiff-whaff, is a racket sport derived from tennis but distinguished by its playing surface being atop a stationary table, rather than the court on which players stand. Either individually or in teams of two, players take alternating turns returning a light, hollow ball over the table's net onto the opposing half of the court using small rackets until they fail to do so, which results in a point for the opponent. Play is fast, requiring quick reaction and constant attention, and is characterized by an emphasis on spin relative to other ball sports, which can heavily affect the ball's trajectory.
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.
Rong Guotuan was a Chinese table tennis player. He won the men's singles title at the 1959 World Table Tennis Championships in Dortmund, the first world championship winner representing the People's Republic of China. During the Cultural Revolution, Rong was persecuted as a "spy suspect". He committed suicide on June 20, 1968.
The 1st World Table Tennis Championships were held in London from December 6 to December 11, 1926.
The 2nd World Table Tennis Championships were held in Stockholm from January 24 to January 29, 1928.
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 1935 World Table Tennis Championships were held at the Imperial Institute, South Kensington in London with the finals at the Wembley Sports Arena, from February 8 to February 16, 1935.
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 1952 World Table Tennis Championships were held in Bombay from 1 to 10 February 1952.The 1952 World Championships were marked by the arrival of the Japanese as a Table Tennis force on the world scene. In another first the Chief Referee of the tournament was an Indian, Professor Arakalgud Subbarao.
The 1953 World Table Tennis Championships were held at the Floreasca and Dynamo Halls in Bucharest from March 20 to March 29, 1953.
The 1959 World Table Tennis Championships were held in Dortmund from March 27 to April 5, 1959.
The 1963 World Table Tennis Championships were held in Prague from April 5 to April 14, 1963.
The 1969 World Table Tennis Championships were held in Munich from April 17 to April 27, 1969. It was the 30th edition to be contested.
The 1971 World Table Tennis Championships (31st) were held in Nagoya from March 28 to April 7, 1971.
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 1991 World Table Tennis Championships were held in Chiba from April 24 to May 6, 1991.
The 1997 World Table Tennis Championships were held in Manchester from April 24 to May 5, 1997. This event was notable as the winner Jan-Ove Waldner won without losing a single set in all matches played, this was the first time that this occurred.
The China national table tennis team is the national representative team of the People's Republic of China, and was founded in 1952.
