Table Tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping pong, is a popular sport that has been played since the 19th century. It was usually an after-dinner parlour game among the upper class. Although the sport is said to have originated from Victorian England, some have suggested there were some makeshift versions of the game that was played by the British officers in India during the 1860s/1870s. It has become a very popular sport and has been recognized as an Olympic sport since 1988.
The sport can be played with two or four people in two teams that have to hit a lightweight ball, also known as a ping pong ball, across a table to their opponent. The table has a net in the centre to indicate whose side the ball is on. The racket used is a laminated wooden racket covered in rubber on one or both sides. The rubber surface can come in various types, each helping a certain aspect in moving the ball, such as speed.
During a game, which player has to serve is usually decided by a coin toss. Once the players are ready on either side of the table, the server throws the ball up in the air and strikes it into the opponent's side. Once this occurs, the receiver must hit it back onto the other player's side and the rally goes on until one side fails to hit the ball. Scoring is decided on several things, such as failure to return a ball, the ball touching the net on the table, a player's hand touching the table's surface, etc. Table tennis tests and improves one’s reflexes, hand-eye coordination, balance, and even keeps your brain sharp.
In short, table tennis is a popular sport that is simple and easy to understand originating from the mid 19th century. It benefits and helps one physically and mentally and it is interesting and fun to play.