Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Salient: An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 12, No. 8, July 27th, 1949.

Indoor

Indoor

Table tennis is an indoor sport which is rapidly gaining popularity in New Zealand. The traditional game of ping-pong is disappearing and being replaced by one of the world's fastest indoor sports. One has only to watch an "A" grade match to see real speed. A certain amount of fussiness is seen in the higher grades over the shape of the ball, height of the net and lighting; this is necessary for the enjoyment of a first-class game. Table tennis can be strenuous. In the lower grades, i.e., from H to D inclusive, competition matches are always played with one game to 31 points advantage, advantage meaning that the winner must be at least two points ahead of his opponent. The game could go on indefinitely after 31 points on condition that the players get alternate points. The higher grades, i.e., from "C to A inclusive, play three games to 21 advantage. The winner of two out of three sets wins the match. In open competition the lower grades play three to 21 and the higher five to 21. Rules are rigidly adhered to in open and handicap competitions. A rally rarely lasts more than seven or eight consecutive shots; in the world championships there is a limit of about 50 on the number of consecutive shots made in each rally. A game can last no longer than 20 minutes and at the end of that time the set is awarded to the player with the highest score. Many scorn table tennis as a child's game, but without complete concentration it would be useless to play in the high grades. A good player is thoroughly exhausted generally after five sets with an equally good opponent.

A skilfully-used bat can produce unbelievable contortions of a ball and it takes concentration, speed and accuracy to return a heavily driven ball. The lighting over the table must be perfect and the table must be painted dull black or dark dull green. Some people play very well under adverse conditions (poor lighting, non-circular ball, etc.), in consequence of which standard conditions must be maintained. Many different balls are used, but for the sake of standard, a "Barna" is used amongst the best of players. Lights must be 70 or 80 watts and 6 feet above the table. From these few facts and the knowledge that 20,000 or more people go to see the world championships at Wembley every year, it can [unclear: be] seen that table tennis is a very [unclear: competitive] sport. Table tennis is in fact the national sport of Hungary. It is interesting to note that this year is the first year that England has, held the world title since about 1925. The world title holder is now Johnny Leech.