World Table Tennis Day(WTTD) is annually observed across the globe on 6th April to promote table tennis globally to be played in every part of the world. The day also marks the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.
- To promote Gender Equality and FEMpowerment, the World Table Tennis Day 2021 will focus to make table tennis popular, universal and inclusive.
- The celebration of the WTTD 2021 aims to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality.
Background:
i.The World Table Tennis day is an initiative of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).
ii.The day was established as a fundamental mission to promote table tennis globally.
iii.The first World Table Tennis Day was observed on 6th April 2015 under the theme “Table Tennis for ALL”.
History of table tennis:
i.Table tennis also known as ping pong, was originally played as a parlour game in Victorian England.
ii.The Sport was not recognised as a competitive sport until 1988.
Table Tennis In Olympics:
i.Table tennis was included in the Olympic games at the Seoul 1988 Games with men’s and women’s singles and doubles.
ii.Since the 2008 Beijing Games the Table Tennis competition consists of men’s and women’s single and team events.
iii.The 2020 Tokyo games will include a mixed doubles event.
About International Table Tennis Federation(ITTF):
CEO– Stephen Dainton(Australia)
Secretary General– Raul Calin(Spain)
Founded in-1926
Headquarters– Lausanne, Switzerland
