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| PongWorld.com                           http://www.pongworld.com |

Table Tennis Update Newsletter
Issue 3 - December 2001


Comments on this newsletter are welcome.
Email us at webmaster@pongworld.com
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In This Issue:

> Country In Focus - This Month: Table Tennis in SWEDEN
> Featured Equipment Review: Double Fish Table
> Professional Players Comment on the New 11-Point Game Format
> New Survey: The 40mm Ball
> Preview of the 2001 US Nationals


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> Country In Focus - This Month: Table Tennis in SWEDEN

Each month, PongWorld will report on table tennis in
a particular country. We will present the country's 
star players, future potential, world results, and
its table tennis history.

This month we present table tennis in Sweden. Read
some funny comments Swedish players received from a
Japanese coach before Sweden became a tt power. We
present the problems faced by Swedish table tennis
before the 1950s.

The Swedish stars who had so much success in the
1980s and 90s are now aging, but there are several
young, excellent players ready to fill in. Read the
profiles of future stars Hakansson, Molin, Johansson
and others.

See the full presentation, including player photos:
http://www.pongworld.com/region/infocus.php
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> FEATURED EQUIPMENT REVIEW:
>      Double Fish 99-45 Tables

User Rating: 5 of 5 paddles.
Reviewer wrote: "[This table] has been used in the
world championships. Each table-half has an
excellent subframe that is easy to fold and move with
one person. Its playing surface is perhaps only
exceeded by the Stiga Expert while its frame is much
better."

Read more or Review your own equipment at
http://www.pongworld.com/reviews.php3
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> Professional Players Comment on New 11-Point Format

Surprisingly, when asked about the new 11-point game format,
many elite players testified that they like it. Here's what some
of them had to say.

"You are under stress from the very first ball. However, I think
it's made table tennis a more interesting sport and more matches
are closer. Time will tell."   - Vladimir Samsonov (Belarus)

"... you have no time to get used to a player's style. I think
you play safer strokes, less exciting shots... For me the priority
is to put the ball on the table."   - Tamara Boros (Croatia)

Source: ITTF
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> New Survey: The 40mm Ball

How has the bigger 40mm ball effected your game? Have
you adapted your playing style to the new ball? Read
what other players think about the new ball.

See the survey results or answer the new survey question at
http://www.pongworld.com/home.php
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> Preview of the 2001 US Nationals

The 2001 US Nationals will be held in Las Vegas,
Nevada in mid-December. The top-seeded men and women
are Cheng Yinghua and Jun Gao Cheng. This year, a
record 730 athletes compete in 68 events.

Read more at
http://www.pongworld.com/articles/articles.php?aid=4
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Need help deciding which paddle, rubber, or table to
purchase? Before your next equipment purchase, first
consult the PongWorld Equipment Reviews Database at
http://www.pongworld.com/reviews.php3


Good luck in your table tennis endevours!

 Johan
 Your PongWorld Webmaster
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