Table tennis has grown in India with stars such as Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra winning Commonwealth Games and Asian medals. The rules are set by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) in its Laws of Table Tennis.
Scoring
- A game is won by the first player to reach 11 points.
- At 10 all, a player must lead by 2 points.
- Matches are usually best of five or best of seven games.
- A point is scored on every rally.
Service
- The ball must rest on the open, flat palm of the free hand.
- The server must toss it nearly vertically upward at least 16 cm without spin.
- The ball is struck as it falls, from behind the end line and above the table surface.
- The ball must bounce once on the server’s side and then on the receiver’s side.
- The ball must not be hidden from the receiver by the server’s body or arm.
- Service changes every 2 points, and every point at 10 all.
Let
A let is called and the point is replayed if, for example, a serve touches the net and then lands correctly on the receiver’s side, or if play is disturbed.
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Losing a point
A player loses a point if they fail to make a good return, hit the ball twice, let the ball bounce twice on their side, move the table, touch the net assembly or place the free hand on the table during a rally.
Doubles
In doubles, the serve goes from the server’s right half court to the receiver’s right half court. Partners must hit the ball in turn. The order of serving and receiving rotates as per the rules.
Expedite system
If a game is not finished after 10 minutes, the expedite system applies, unless both players have scored at least 9 points. Each player then serves one point in turn, and the receiver wins the point after 13 good returns.
Bottom line
Table tennis rules are simple: 11 points, service changes every two points and a fair toss of at least 16 cm.
Source / स्रोत: ITTF Statutes and Laws of Table Tennis, Table Tennis Federation of India
