Ping Pong: The Weird Files

Ping Pong, otherwise known as table tennis for most of us, is dominated in Korea, China and Sweden.  Its creator is unknown. The popular sport dates back all the way to 12 Century AD. It was known as court tennis back then and through the years evolved into the title “table tennis.”  Rules for ping pong were not created until somewhere in the 1890’s.  The first people, ever, to be recorded playing ping pong for sport were British Army officers.  Through the years it developed into an extreme and athletic sport. Championships were won, sweat and blood was shed over this sport. But why was it so important, since it only consisted of tossing a ball back and forth.  No one will ever know the answer to that question, unless they have a love for the game.

Ping Pong received its name from the Parker Bros., after the noise it made when making contact with the bat and the table.

From 1930 to 1950 ping pong was sadly banned. This was during the Soviet Union and the beloved sport was said to be hurtful to the eyes. It made its way back into sports fans hearts when they lifted the ban. It was definitely not forgotten, since it soon became popular across the nation once more.

Ping pong is not just good for your body; it is also a good workout for your mind as well.  Unless you’re running back and forth across the ping pong table, which is highly unlikely, you’re most likely not going to lose a lot of lower body weight playing ping pong. The sport is good for your arms, and chest.  It can help you become better at strategizing, and think quickly on your feet when need be.

Is ping pong a deadly sport? It could cause injury to the face and other areas of the body. There have been no reports of someone actually dying, because of a ping pong accident.

Today over 40 million sports fanatics take place in ping pong championships around the world. Some cross over into international, while others stick close to the United States.  It has come a long way from using cardboard and a webbed cork ball.