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The idea for table tennis first comes about in the late 19th century when the upperclass in South Africa wanted a way to play outdoor tennis indoors during the winter.
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In 1900 the Hamley Brothers trademark the name ping pong in England. The name is later sold to the Parker Brothers (inventor of Monopoly).
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In 1901, and unofficial world ping pong championship was held.
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Ping Pong is first brought to Asia in 1902 by a Japanese student who discovered it while studying in University in England. The game quickly takes off in the region.
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In Berlin 1926, the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) is founded in Berlin. Member countries include England, Sweden, Hungary, India, Denmark, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Austria, and Wales.
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In London 1927, the first official table tennis world championships are held and are won by a Hungarian.
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In 1952, Japanese player Horoi Satoh introduced the foam rubber paddle. The foam paddle made ping pong a much faster sport.
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In the early 1970's, the Nixon administration begins Ping Pong Diplomacy in which American players went to China and played Ping Pong against Chinese players. The event loosened cold war tensions and opened up the relationship between the U.S. and the People's Republic of China.
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In the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics, Table Tennis appears as an official sport for the first time.
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Around the 1900's the celluloid ball is introduced to the game, giving the ball more bounce compared to the previous rubber or cork ones. Following this, the game gains popularity
