Ping pong is a game played on a table, divided into two equal courts. The objective of the game is to get the ball over the net and into your opponent’s court. Players use small rackets, called bats, to propel the lightweight hollow ball.
Ping pong has evolved into several versions of the game around the world. In China, the game is called Ping Pang Qiu, while in Taiwan it is known as Zhuo Qiu. It also has a Korean version called taggu.
During the early 1900s, ping pong was widely played in the United States. A number of companies used the word to market their products.
Parker Brothers, an American company, acquired naming rights for the game, and threatened legal action against anyone using the name without specifying equipment. By the 1920s, the name “Ping Pong” was trademarked.
Although the names of the games are not interchangeable, they are still used in some countries, including the US. However, “ping pong” is not officially recognized as a sport in the US, and is not officially a part of the Olympics.
Today, there are leagues for serious players, and the sport is popular all over the world. There are national championships and international tournaments. Among the athletes who have won titles are Jorgen Persson, a Swedish player who competed in five Olympic Games.
Ping pong has a less formal history than table tennis, and is now used in many places around the world. Many people refer to all recreational players as ping pong players.