The Table Tennis Team World Championships in London features competitors aged 73 to 12, showcasing the sport's appeal across generations. This year's event celebrates a century since the first championships and is highlighted by the film 'Marty Supreme.'
Key points
Wang Qi is the oldest competitor at 73 years old.
Enya Hu is the youngest player at 12 years old.
The tournament features 380 competitors from various nations.
This year marks 100 years since the first world championships.
The sport's popularity is boosted by the movie 'Marty Supreme.'
Marty SupremeWang QiEnya HuTable Tennis Team World Championships
âTable tennis is very good for the mind as well as the body, whatever age you are,â says 73-year-old Wang Qi, the oldest competitor at the Table Tennis Team World Championships in London.
Incredibly the Fiji player, who hails from China, is 61 years older than the youngest player, Enya Hu, from Switzerland. Age is evidently no barrier in this increasingly popular sport.
Qi and Hu are among 380 men and women representing their nations inside the Copperbox and Wembley Arenas, where extraordinary reflexes and dexterity are showcased by all.
Dimitrije Levajac of Serbia on the defensive in his victory over Luka Mladenovic of Luxembourg in the round-robin stages at the Copper Box Arena
Dimitrije Levajac of Serbia plays a defensive shot in his victory over Luka Mladenovic of Luxembourg in the early round robin stages at the Copper Box Arena.
All 12 tables in action during matches in the early round-robin stages at the Copper Box Arena
Jakub Zelinka of Slovakia serves to an opponent from Guatemala
(Left) All 12 tables in action during matches in the early round-robin stages at the Copper Box Arena. (Right) Jakub Zelinka of Slovakia serves to an opponent from Guatemala.
Q&A
Who is the oldest competitor at the Table Tennis World Championships?
The oldest competitor is 73-year-old Wang Qi from Fiji, originally from China.
What is the age difference between the oldest and youngest players in the tournament?
Wang Qi is 61 years older than the youngest player, Enya Hu, who is from Switzerland.
What significant milestone is being celebrated at this year's Table Tennis World Championships?
This year's tournament marks the 100th anniversary of the first world championships.
How is the sport of table tennis gaining popularity recently?
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Tin-tin Ho of England, the English female No 1, waits for a serve from Hina Hayata of Japan at Wembley. Tin-tin has an older brother called Ping and was going to be called Pong by her table tennis-mad father, until her mother intervened
Tin-tin Ho of England, the English female No 1, waits for a serve from Hina Hayata of Japan at Wembley. Tin-tin has an older brother called Ping and was going to be called Pong by her table tennis-mad father, until her mother intervened.
Lin Shidong (China) uses his towel during his victory over Kim Jangwon of South Korea
Dina Meshref of Egypt stays focused in her victory against Lilou Massart of Belgium
(Left) Lin Shidong (China) uses his towel during his victory over Kim Jangwon of South Korea. (Right) Dina Meshref of Egypt serves in her victory over Lilou Massart of Belgium.
Iulian Chrita of Romania prepares to serve. He defeated Farouk Salifou of Benin
Iulian Chrita of Romania prepares to serve. He defeated Farouk Salifou of Benin.
South Koreaâs Oh Jun-sung pictured during his victory over Liang Jingkun of China
South Koreaâs Oh Jun-sung pictured during his victory over Liang Jingkun of China.
Table tennis has come a long way since the early days when the Victorian parlour game was played on dining tables with cork balls and a row of books in lieu of a net.
As Boris Johnson joked during the Olympic handover prior to the 2012 Games: âOther nations looked at a dining table and saw an opportunity to have dinner; we (England) looked at it and saw an opportunity to play âwhiff whaffââ
After technological improvements including the adoption of a plastic ball, the International Table Tennis Federation was founded by Ivor Montagu, (later unmasked as a communist spy), and the first world championships was staged in 1926 at Memorial Hall in London.
The six-day event featured players from nine countries and ended with Hungary winning all the menâs and womenâs titles. Three years later, Englishman Fred Perry, later to be feted for his lawn tennis exploits, became the menâs singles table tennis champion.
The game is now a global affair, with 227 member associations and universal appeal, ranking among the top 10 sports for participation.
The ITTF president, Petra Sorling, ascribes the gameâs universal appeal to its simplicity. âAll you need is a table, two bats and a ball,â she says. âThe cost of entry is low, the rules are simple to follow, and you can play indoors or outdoors, in any climate, in any culture.
âThatâs why, here in London and around the world, you see people playing in sports centres, parks, offices, town halls â anywhere you can fit a table. It really is a sport for all.â
A 1901 illustration shows members of high society playing whiff-whaff on a dining table
A 1901 illustration shows members of high society playing whiff-whaff on a dining table.
Competitors at the 1926 World Table Tennis Championships at Memorial Hall in Farringdon, London. The tables were made by J. Jaques & Son
Competitors at the 1926 World Table Tennis Championships at Memorial Hall in Farringdon, London. The tables were made by J. Jaques & Son.
A table tennis event at Paddington Baths
Fred Perry practising table tennis in Prague
(Left) A table tennis event at Paddington Baths. (Right) Fred Perry practising table tennis in Prague.
Having played since he was seven and having coached a future Olympic gold medallist in China in the 1980s, Qi must have felt ready for anything in London. Be it forehand drives or defensive lobs, he had nothing to fear with his trusty âchopperâ bat in hand.
However, there was an unexpected twist before the tournament started, when organisers informed Qi that both of his bats were unlawful. The ruling shattered his prospects but not his spirit.
âMy bat is very special, very old style: long pimples with no sponge,â he said. âI am maybe the only person who still plays this style. I had no time to fix it so I had to borrow my team memberâs racket. Itâs a big difference.â
Nevertheless, Qi, who recently overcame shingles and had little time to practise, battled through his matches and made friends throughout. âLose, win, itâs no problem,â he said. After all, âtable tennis is my best lifeâ.
Wang Qi of Fiji in the round-robin stage
Wang Qi of Fiji in the round-robin stage.
Qi is told by the tournament referee that his bat is illegal
Qi during his loss to Abdoulaye Mohamed of Cameroon
(Left) Qi is told by the tournament referee that his bat is illegal. (Right) Qi during his loss to Abdoulaye Mohamed of Cameroon. The game was over in under 15 minutes.
Qi smiles despite defeat
Qi smiles despite defeat.
Community and health are fundamental to the wide appeal of table tennis. Chris Beckley, a retired firefighter who runs various coaching clubs and workshops across London, is a vocal advocate.
âFrom the moment I wake up until the moment I go to bed, itâs all about table tennis. I absolutely love it!â he says.
âI teach people of all ages and I love the impact this sport has on people, whether itâs on their mental health or physical health, or socially. People come together through table tennis.â
Studies in Japan in 1998 explored the gameâs therapeutic potential to reduce cognitive decline and delay the onset of symptoms in the early stages of Alzheimerâs. Up to five portions of the Alzheimerâs subjects brains were activated during play.
Julian Pierre, who has had Parkinsonâs for six years, can attest to the benefits of the game. The 55-year-old had not picked up a bat for five years due to his illness, but enjoyed a free event at Ping Hub in a shopping centre in Ilford, east London.
Julian Pierre, a 58-year-old who has Parkinsonâs, returns balls from a machine at Ping Hub in Ilford, while coach Chris Beckley watches
Julian Pierre, a 58-year-old who has Parkinsonâs, returns balls that are fired rapidly at him by a machine, while coach Chris Beckley watches on. The pair are pictured at Ping Hub at Ilford Exchange Shopping Centre.
Customers at Bounce ping-pong club, which is in the building where the original rules of the game were formulated by J. Jaques & Son in 1901
Bats in a rack behind reception at Bounce ping-pong Club
(Left) Customers at Bounce ping-pong club, which is in the building where the original rules of the game were formulated by J. Jaques & Son in 1901. (Right) Bats in a rack behind reception at Bounce ping-pong Club.
Free table tennis in the atrium of Brent town hall, opposite Wembley
Free table tennis in the atrium of Brent town hall opposite Wembley.
China has been the powerhouse of table tennis since the 1960s, winning 23 menâs and 23 womenâs team world titles, while also hoovering up 37 of 42 Olympic gold medals since the sport debuted at the summer Games in 1988. China has an estimated 300m recreational players.
There was a major upset on day five of the world championships as Korea Republic beat China 3-1 in the seeding stage of the menâs team event, ending a 26-year winning streak. Chinaâs world No 1, Chuqin Wang, didnât feature in that match. But he did play in the following contest against Sweden, that China also lost.
Sorling says: âTable tennis is deeply ingrained in Chinese culture and with a population of over a billion, the talent pool is enormous. Add to that a state-of-the-art training infrastructure that is among the very best in the world and you have a formidable combination.
âBut crucially, Chinaâs dominance has not been a ceiling for others, it has been a catalyst. In many ways, China has made the whole world better at table tennis.â
Wang Chuqin of China, the multiple world and Olympic champion and world No 1 menâs player â hits a forehand during his victory over Samuel Walker of England at Wembley
Wang Chuqin of China, the multiple world and Olympic champion and world No 1 menâs player â hits a forehand during his victory over Samuel Walker of England at Wembley.
A fan of China points to an image of Sun Yingsha
China supporters outside the Hilton Hotel next to Wembley, trying to catch a glimpse of their favourite players
(Left) A fan of China points to an image of Sun Yingsha. (Right) China supporters outside the Hilton Hotel next to Wembley, trying to catch a glimpse of their favourite players.
The Chinese womenâs team emerge for their seeding-stage opener
The Chinese womenâs team emerge for their seeding-stage opener.
Liang Jingkun of China watches the ball during defeat by Oh Jun-sung (Korea)
Journalists interview Wang Chuqin after Chinaâs men beat England in their opening match
(Left) Liang Jingkun of China watches the ball during defeat by Oh Jun-sung (Korea). (Right) Journalists interview Wang Chuqin after Chinaâs men beat England in their opening match.
Fans film China womenâs match against Romania
Fans film China womenâs match against Romania.
Wang Chuqin of China reacts during his victory against Samuel Walker (England).
Wang Chuqin of China reacts during his victory against Samuel Walker (England).
The team world championships follow a simple format: each nation chooses three players for each match, with a best-of-five format deciding the winner. The balls fly across the tables at speeds of up to 72mph, creating a blizzard of colour and noise.
Crowds have been sparse at times in the early stages (except when the Chinese are playing) with the number of athletes often exceeding spectators. Nevertheless it is a festival of table tennis with intriguing matches and storylines aplenty. Madagascar v Mongolia, anyone?
âMore and more talent is emerging from around the world,â Sorling says. âWhen a 12-year-old and a 73-year-old can both find genuine challenge and joy at a table, you know you have something truly special.â
The knockout stages of the tournament will conclude in front of a bumper crowd on 10 May, with the winning men lifting the Swaythling Cup â the same trophy presented to Hungary in 1926 â and the victorious women claiming the Corbillon Cup. Could China finally be deposed?
Amir Atanda Adou, of Benin, was defeated by Ovidiu Ionescu of Romania
Amir Atanda Adou, of Benin, was defeated by Ovidiu Ionescu of Romania.
Liang Jingkun (China) serves in his defeat by Oh Jun-sung of Korea
Liang Jingkun (China) serves in his defeat by Oh Jun-sung of Korea.
A France team member retrieves his bat after it was checked for legality
Dario Arce of Mexico during his loss to Jonathan Groth of Denmark
(Left) A France team member retrieves his bat after it was checked for legality. (Right) Dario Arce of Mexico serves during his loss to Jonathan Groth of Denmark.
A match between Chile and Slovakia in the womenâs event
A match between Chile and Slovakia in the womenâs event.
Players from Argentina and Croatia in the round-robin stages of the womenâs competition
Lea Rakovac of Croatia serves during her defeat by Nicole Arlia of Italy
(Left) Players from Argentina and Croatia in the round-robin stages of the womenâs competition. (Right) Lea Rakovac of Croatia serves during her defeat by Nicole Arlia of Italy.
Ălvaro Robles of Spain (ranked 67) is mobbed by teammates after clinching a shock victory, on his fourth match point, over the world No 14 Darko Jorgic of Slovenia
Ălvaro Robles of Spain (ranked 67) is mobbed by teammates after clinching a shock victory, on his fourth match point, over the world No 14 Darko Jorgic of Slovenia.
Nina Mittelham of Germany plays a shot in her victory over Yuan Jia Nan of France
Nina Mittelham of Germany in her victory over Yuan Jia Nan of France.