May | 2021 |

Who’s the Next No. 1: Looking Past the Olympics

May 8, 2021

(by Steve Hopkins, photos by ITTFworld) Often there is a changing of the guard after an Olympics – a time when top players retire and move on to their next challenge. In a normal cycle the Olympics would have occurred a year ago and the landscape of our sport would already have changed – but this […]

China’s Olympic “Trials”: Qihao Tops Zhendong in Xingtong

May 7, 2021

(by Steve Hopkins, photo by ITTFworld) If this event were a true Olympic Trials, the table tennis world might have just been turned on its collective ears. As each of the Chinese Olympic Team members fell to much lower ranked opponents – and if the winner made the team, a relatively unknown Zhou Qihao would […]

China’s Olympic “Trials”: Surprises in Xingtong

May 7, 2021

(by Steve Hopkins, photo by ITTFworld) The teams are already set, so the 5-day event is more of a warm-up than a true Olympic Trial. That said, the goal of the Chinese was to have a competitive internal event that simulated the format of the Tokyo Olympics and prepared their top players for July. What […]

Ask The Experts: Stefan Feth No. 392

May 6, 2021

Butterfly Table Tennis Question and Answer Question: Hi Stefan Hope you are well. I was thinking of changing backhand rubber to Tenergy 19. 2.1mm. Would that be OK on my blade. Thank you in advance. Kind Regards. P.S. Have always enjoyed watching your coaching videoes Mo Answer: This Ask the Experts question was answered by Stefan […]

Ask The Experts: Xin Zhou, No. 391

May 5, 2021

Butterfly Table Tennis Question and Answer Question: Hi coach I want to use the Timo Boll tj but I’m not sure if I should or not I’m 13 and have small hands but I don’t know if it is a good blade for me my play style is attacking it would be nice if you […]

Timo Boll’s Review of Butterfly Dignics 09C

May 4, 2021

Below is a product review by Timo Boll that was published on May 4, 2021 – outlining why he has made the move to Butterfly Dignics 09C. Today I review the Butterfly Dignics 09c rubber for you. This rubber is really something special for me, not only because I play it myself on forehand and […]

Daniel González fixes his gaze on Paris 2024

May 4, 2021

(By Yamaira Muñiz Pérez, THE SPOKESMAN) Tenimesista Daniel González already suffered and cried all he had to cry after not reaching the ticket to the Tokyo Olympics. Now enjoy a well-deserved week of rest before returning to work again to train for that Olympic dream that will be reborn in three years. “My gaze is […]

U.S. Olympian to Compete in Fayetteville Table Tennis Tournament May 7-9

May 3, 2021

(Photo Credit: VisitFayettevilleNC.com) Fayetteville, NC – Juan Liu, who will represent the United States at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, will compete at the Butterfly Sandhills Open May 7-9 in Fayetteville, North Carolina. In addition to Liu, more than 116 players from around the country and world are scheduled to compete. “One competitor, Ayoola Popoola, is traveling from […]

Coaching Tip of the Week: Team Lineup Strategies

May 3, 2021

(By Larry Hodges) In a team competition, you have to set up your team lineup in advance. How do you do this? It depends on your priorities. If your priority is strictly winning, then there are guidelines on how to do this, which I’ll go over below. If your priority is to let the players […]

Table Tennis Star Returns to Bay Area to Prepare for Tokyo Olympic Games

May 3, 2021

(By Ian Cull/NBC Bay Area) The youngest American athlete from the 2016 games in Rio is now fighting his way back to the top in table tennis for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He also happens to be from the Bay Area. Kanak Jha has spent the past 10 years perfecting his game at table tennis. […]