TABLE TENNIS REORGANISED

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28260, 24 April 1957, Page 15

TABLE TENNIS REORGANISED

Faced by evidence of a fallingoff in interest in table tennis over the last few years, the committee of the Canterbury Table Tennis Association has decided to completely reorganise the competitions to be played this winter. Entries in inter-club competitions and in tournaments have dropped considerably since the peak year of 1951.

Teams entered in the competitions in 1950 were 173, in the best year ever experienced by the association. These were four-man teams. Last season, the entries were 164 thpee-man teams, the equivalent of only 113 four-man teams. Entries in the various tournaments and championships conducted by the association told a similar tale.

The association has now instructed its competition’s committee to restrict the number of teams in the first grade this year to eight, in place of 12 in last year’s competition. It is generally felt that there are certainly not 36 players of first grade standard in the province, and this restriction will ensure that a better allround standard of table tennis is played in the top grades. In addition, the second grade will also be restricted to eight teams. It is felt that the more careful grading of teams, especially in the lower grades, will not only have a beneficial effect on the ' general standard, but will also provide more agreeable social play for those who prefer it.