Here at NetBet, we’ve got a whole load of great markets for sports betting, and we offer some of the best Table Tennis odds around. We don’t just take bets on individual matches; we offer online betting on plenty of deeper markets on our UK betting site. If you want to place any sports bet, here’s a quick guide on how exactly you should go about it.
What is Table Tennis?
Table Tennis, also referred to as Ping Pong, is a fast-paced, indoor sport played among two or four players in individual (singles) and team (doubles) events, respectively. The game is played on a rectangular table with a net in the middle; It divides the table into two halves. Players hit a small, lightweight ball back and forth using a small racket or paddle.
The objective of the game is to strike the ball, so it goes over to the other half of the net and bounces on the rival’s side of the table. If the opponent fails to return the ball in time or is unable to return it on your side of the table, you receive a point. The first player to earn 11 points wins the match. In games tied at 10 points each, a player must acquire a lead of two points to win. Since table tennis is a fast-paced sport, it requires quick and keen reflexes, strategy, consistency, and excellent hand-eye coordination.
The Worldwide Organisation International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), established in 1926, is the governing body that regulates table tennis across the world. At the moment, ITTF is associated with 226 member associations. This sport has been considered an Olympic sport since 1988. Table tennis is played in almost every country in the world, with Chinese and Japanese players dominating the sport for the better part of the last two decades.
History of Table Tennis
Table tennis was invented in 19th century Victorian England as an adaptation of lawn tennis, which was quite popular at the time. The game became an indoor alternative to lawn tennis in winters when it became too cold to play outside. Initially, it was only played among the upper class as an after-dinner parlour game but quickly caught up speed since it was much more accessible for people to play at home and didn’t require a big outdoor space.
This game was widely referred to as “Ping Pong” before J. Jaques and Sons, an English firm, trademarked the term (later sold to Parker Brother in the United States) in 1901. This caused several associations, manufacturers, and companies to change their names from Ping Pong to Table Tennis. The hollow celluloid balls and the modern version of the table tennis racket were discovered in 1901 by James W. Gibb and E.C. Goode, respectively.
By 1901, the Ping Pong Association and the Table Tennis Association were established, the sport’s popularity grew to the extent that tournaments were being conducted, and an unofficial World Championship was organised in 1902. A visiting Japanese professor introduced table tennis when he returned home, and it caught on with Asian players.
The first official World Championship was hosted in London in 1926, the same year the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) was inaugurated. The ITTF defined the first set of table tennis rules in 1959, which were later adopted by all other countries. By 2003, these rules had been modified a total of three times. Table tennis was officially introduced as an Olympic sport at the Seoul Olympics in 1988.
How do I bet on Table Tennis?
At NetBet, some of the betting markets available for table tennis include:
Match Result
Also known as match winner, a match result is the most popular betting market for almost every sport; the same is the case with table tennis. This bet allows bettors to predict and wager on the player/team they think will win a table tennis match by securing the most points. Because of its simplicity, this bet type is a huge hit with newbies as well as seasoned bettors.
HC Points
Bookmakers assign handicaps to both players or teams to even out the playing field. These handicaps are usually in the form of points. Here, you choose the player/team who you predict will emerge victorious even after the allocated handicap is applied to their final score.
For example, if a -9 handicap is applied to Player X, then they must defeat their opponent by at least 9 points for the wager to payout.
Over/Under Points
Over/Under points bet is another popular market for table tennis. With this bet, you must predict whether the combined score of both players or teams will be more (over) or less (under) than a number specified by the bookmaker. Your bet will be refunded if the total points are equal to that predetermined number.
For instance, if a match is being played being Player A and Player B and the specified number is X, you use the Over/Under points bet to predict whether the points scored by both the players will be over or under the X value.
When you choose NetBet Sport, you can enjoy a whole range of top quality sports and markets. Whatever you choose, always remember to bet responsibly. Here at NetBet, player wellbeing is our number one priority – check out our Responsible Gambling tips and tools page for more information.
