March 23, 2000
The history of table tennis is something of a mystery. While no one can debate its popularity, the date of its founding is uncertain.
The sport, which most believe originated in England as an after-dinner amusement in the 1800s, attracts more than 40 million competitive players worldwide and many millions more who play for recreation.
Formerly known as Gossima, Flim-Flam, Whif-Whaf and Ping-Pong, table tennis reached the height of its popularity in the early 20th century, but faded from the foreground until making a strong comeback in the 1920s.
Table tennis has been an Olympic sport since 1988.