(by Steve Hopkins) Jenson Van Emburgh, one of America’s top para athletes, visited Europe earlier this month to play in two para events.  He competed in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy in the 2024 ITTF Lignano Masters Para Open from March 6-9, and he competed in Platja d’Aro, Spain in the 2024 ITTF Costa Brava Spanish Para […]

(by Steve Hopkins, photo USATT) Different Olympic paths are in place for US Men and Women this year.  For the Women, they qualified for a full team – with Lily Zhang qualifying based upon World Ranking, and Amy Wang and Rachel Sung joining her on the squad through their efforts this weekend at the qualifier. […]

(by Steve Hopkins, photo WTT) Wang Chuqin has retaking the World No. 1 Ranking, surpassing Fan Zhendong on the heels of Chuqin’s victory at the Singapore Smash last weekend.  Chuqin now has a 2250 point lead (with 8020 ranking points) over Fan Zhendong (with 5788). Liang Junkun moved up three spots (to No. 3), hopping […]

(by Steve Hopkins)   Located in Rosemead, California, in the heart of the San Gabriel Valley outside of Los Angeles, is a unique, full-time table tennis facility.  California Table Tennis offers 16 Butterfly tables, professional rubber flooring, and some of the best playing conditions available in the United States.  The club has 200 active members […]

(by Steve Hopkins, photo WTT) If you only tuned in to the Singapore Smash for the two all-China Finals, you would have missed out on a weeks worth of drama – especially in the Men’s Draw.  On the last day, it was a lot of familiar Chinese faces, with the Men’s Final going to World […]

(by Steve Hopkins) As the Singapore Smash progresses, the biggest stories have revolved around underdogs advancing further than expected (and the big upsets that have occurred as a result).  Timo Boll, Patrick Franziska, and Sharath Kamal Achanta each reached the Quarterfinals.  Cho Daesseong, Omar Assar, Kristian Karlsson, and Ovidiu Ionescu all reached the Round of […]

(by Steve Hopkins) Upsets have become the norm as even more surprise wins occur in the Round of 16 at the Singapore Smash. Six of the World’s Top 10 players have already fallen.  Who are the Final 8?  Timo Boll will face Liang Jingkun, Patrick Franziska will face Lin Yun-Ju, Felix Lebrun will face Sharath […]

(by Steve Hopkins) Early action upsets are the main storyline at the Singapore Smash.  As the second Day has come to a close, we are only halfway through the Round of 32, but already we have seen three of the World’s Top 4 players fall. World No. 4 Lin Gaoyuan was the first to fall, […]

(by Steve Hopkins) The 2024 Pan Am Masters Games will be hosted in Cleveland this year, and Butterfly will be there.  Event organizers and Bowmar Sports have come to an agreement for Butterfly to sponsor this year’s Olympic-style event which will be held July 12-21. The Pan American Masters Games were first organized in Vancouver […]