The Table Tennis

CCoolllleeccttoorr Spring2010

In MemoriamJuan Antonio Samaranch

1920 - 2010

56

The Table Tennis

Collector

No.No.5656SSpring 2010pring 2010

Editor and Publisher:Chuck Hoey, Curator

ITTF Museum, Switzerlandwww.ittf.com/museum

museum@ittf.com

From the EditorJuan Antonio Samaranch 1920-2010

This issue is dedicated to legendary Juan AntonioSamaranch, who passed away in April at age 89.During his brilliant 21-year term as President of theInternational Olympic Committee, he modernizedthe Olympic Movement. As current IOC PresidentJacques Rogge observed, “President Samaranchwas the architect of the Olympic Games of themodern era. It was thanks to his extraordinaryvision and talent that the Olympic Movementbecame strong and unified, and his tremendousachievements will leave a legacy that will continuelong into the future.”

He also founded the Musée Olympique, and was a master philatelic collector,who donated his splendid Olympics collection to the Musée. I had the privilegeof meeting him on several occasions, once during the 1991 World Champion-ships in Chiba, Japan, with HIH Prince Akishino, and twice during visits to theITTF Museum. I shall never forget the moment when he pointed his powerfulfinger at me in the Museum, and said “Videos!” Since that time I have installedboth touch-screen videos and a small theater showing vintage Table Tennisvideos, and hope to have a touch-screen video feature in each room of theMuseum. Thank you sir, for your advice.

ITTF Executive Director Jordi Serra knew Mr. Samaranch well: "In my life I have met very few people with the capacity of having a vision

about the future, about the changes on society and how to adapt to thesechanges: Samaranch was one of them. He was able to contribute to his bigpassion, the Olympic movement, changing completely the IOC during hisPresidency. For us, we must be always grateful to him because during hismandate Table Tennis became an Olympic Sport. His support to our sporthelped not only on its recognition inside the Olympic Programme but also inits position within the Sports Movement".

Mr. Samaranch was also responsible indirectly for the ITTF Museum. Hehad a vision of forming an Olympic community in Lausanne, and invited theITTF to relocate its headquarters in Switzerland. In 2003 his vision became areality, when the ITTF moved its headquarters from Hastings to Lausanne, in abeautifully renovated 17th century Swiss chateau. ITTF President AdhamSharara also had a vision, and as a result the ITTF Museum was founded.

Juan Antonio Samaranch, diplomat, sports visionary, and collector - yourlegacy will live on forever.

Publishing schedule:Spring issue: May 1 Submit articles by April 15Summer issue: Aug. 1 Submit articles by July 15Fall issue: Nov. 1 Submit articles by Oct. 15Winter issue: Feb. 1 Submit articles by Jan. 15

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In this issue ...

CelebritySightings

21

GreatShots

3

GeraldGurney1923 UKChamps.

5

New BooksMatthew

Syed20

Auction Action10-13

HeavyMetal:

24

NewDiscoveries

4

Alan Dukeresearch

6-7

PhilatelicUpdate

16-18

MeetMike

Babuin14-15

Great Shots: Historic Photographs

Great Shots features the late Juan Antonio Samaranch playing Deng Yaping inan exhibition at the Musée Olympique. Looks like the Honorary Life President ofthe IOC has made a ... great shot!

Our Mystery Photo asks the Readers to identify the autographs. Some are obvious, such as the two byRichard Bergmann, Johnny Leach, Montagu, Cor du Buy, Pritzi, ... Answers to: museum@ittf.com

Mystery PhotoMystery Photo

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New DiscoveriesOld Treasures

Australian Table Tennis legend Bob Tuckettsends this unusual piece of Table Tennishistory. It is a well-crafted metal ashtray,with a center disk showing a player againsta world globe background, surrounded by“29th World Table Tennis ChampionshipsMelbourne 1967 Australia.”So what makes this piece so unusual? The1967 World Championships were actuallyheld in Stockholm. How to account for thisdiscrepancy? The answer is found in thatmurky quagmire of international relations,during a troubled decade. Australia refusedto issue entry visas to players from theDemocratic Republic of Vietnam, so theITTF removed the World Championshipsfrom Australia. On short notice Swedenagreed to host the event, during which H.Roy Evans (WAL) was elected as ITTFPresident, after Montagu’s retirement from40 years of service.

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One Day in the 1920s ...by

Gerald Gurney

I recently went to an auction at which the above itemwas on offer. Hallmarked as sterling silver, 41 ounces &measuring over 10 inches across the rim, the trophymade £400 - plus £60 for charges.

Several interesting questions arise; in particular, whatexactly was the status of the United Kingdom TableTennis Championships and what can be discovered aboutMiss Annie Hall? But we will come to these issues later.

I had little interest in buying the trophy - particularly inview of the likely reserve of £250 - and I did not bid for it.Most of the bidding was secretive and I could not seewho was finally successful in the crowded room.

Why should anyone pay the considerable sum of £460for it unless it survives from an important national eventsuch as the All-England Championships first played atSelfridges on the 21st and 22nd April 1922? It was notuntil 3 years later that it became Open - and the men’ssingles trophy went abroad for a run of 16 years. Therecords show that Miss K.M.Berry (Surrey) won in theseasons 1922-23 and 1923-24, but there is no clear evi-dence that Annie Hall was the runner-up on one of thoseoccasions. However, in the Autumn of 1922, the mam-moth Daily Mirror tournament - which is said to haveattracted “nearly 40.000 entries” - took place, and the women’s event was won by Miss Berry, at the age of 15.

Was the trophy presented on that occasion, in whichcase it is astonishing that the Daily Mirror did not insist onhaving its title engraved on the trophy? Does anyonehave a programme (or the full results) for either of theseevents?

It is quite possible that the trophy was bought bysomeone for presentation at a modern event - possiblytennis - and that by the time you read this the engravinghas already been filled in by a silversmith and the trophyre-engraved on the other side.

I thought at first that someone, with no sense of sport-ting history, might want to pick up the trophy for scrap. InEngland at the moment scrap silver is worth about £8 anounce, but a loss of £132 would not be much of a bar-gain!

I will be delighted to hear that you were bidding on theinternet and were successful!

Early references in THE TIMES – Part 4: Miscellaneous

by Alan Duke

On August 29th 1903, a lengthy letter was published detailing all the requirements for a new game, Kopter Tennis.

I have reproduced most of the introduction* (although ping-pong is only fleetingly mentioned) as of general interest, but in essence, it appears to be a smaller version of real tennis (about one-third the court size),

with the dimensions of the court and the implements (including the felt-covered wooden racket) more “in proportion”.

In the December 3rd edition there was a reference to Jaques, “publishers of Ping Pong”, with the release of their newest board game, Kalipha (timed presumably for the Christmas market). It was reported in the edition of January 3rd 1905 that on the previous evening “about 1,300 of the poorest children of London were provided with dinner … at the Guildhall. … Earlier in the day 6,000 hampers, each containing a meat pie, a cake, a Christmas pudding, tea and sweets, were despatched from the Guildhall-yard, in 24 vans, to crippled children in all parts of London… . With each hamper was sent a ping-pong set, the gift of Messrs. Jacques (sic), and a Christmas card from Messrs. Davidson Brothers.”

Over a period of two days in 19051, ping-pong was named as an alibi for one evening by the named co-respondent in an adultery case. “At 8 30 p.m. on April 23, 1902–another date upon which misconduct had been alleged–his diary showed that he was at a ‘ping-pong’ tournament and had remained there until 10 30 p.m.” The next day, we learn that the tournament was at St. Paul’s-hall, and that his presence was confirmed by a witness. The alibi must have helped, as the verdict was ‘Not Guilty’!

One final mention in court was reported on June 27th 1906 in a case in which a limited company was seeking damages for slander. It was alleged that the slander occurred in a speech, subsequently reported in the local paper. “The speech was made at the Ladies’ Liberal Association meeting on the lawn between intervals of ping-pong, lawn tennis, and dancing.”

On July 1st 1907, we return once more to Dr. MacNamara and the Education Bill. This time he was speaking at a Liberal demonstration at Rochester on the conflicts between the Houses of Commons and Lords, following the rejection of the Bill by the House of Lords. “The existence of the hereditary peer could not be defended outside a madhouse. (Cheers.) The people could love the peers as social institutions to lay foundation-stones and preside at bazaars and ping-pong tournaments, but for Heaven’s sake common-sense English people should give up the grotesque figment that because a man happened to be a peer, therefore the great God above arranged that his eldest son should be a born legislator.” On 15th October 1907, the latest fad (Diabolo) was compared with its predecessor (Ping-Pong), which had

evidently vanished!:

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But possibly ping-pong was not quite as dead as this article suggested, for in reporting on a Diabolo Tournament at Crystal Palace, the following comments were made on 31st October: December 21st 1910 saw a correspondent exploring, not totally successfully, the reason for the sudden growth in popularity of golf 25 years earlier. In the end, it is suggested that a complete explanation will not be found without taking into account “the subtle and incalculable influence of caprice–an influence which sways the fortunes of all games, … which ordains … that croquet and lawn tennis should wax and wane like twin but variable stars; and that games like ping-pong and diabolo should for a time seem to aim at a dominant ascendency and then vanish altogether like a thief in the night.” Well, table tennis didn’t quite vanish, but must have kept a low profile for a while as the next mention is not until the edition of 17th November 1921.

Describing the shopping scene in London leading up to Christmas, a ‘woman correspondent’ noted:

“Brompton-road and Knightsbridge are very busy these days, and already the Christmas shopping is in full swing. Harrods has come into its own again; … Games that give pleasure to family gatherings in country and town are laid out for sample practice in another room. Table games seem popular this year –improved shuttlecock and ping-pong, table tennis, mild gambling games played with a spinning-top and little coloured balls, and an infinite variety of others, some requiring skill and others mere luck, offer a wide choice.” On June 12th 1922, the following photo was published: Whilst on November 23rd 1922 a notice in the ‘Personal’ section sought to attract new members:

“SOCIAL (Mixed) CLUB, dancing, table tennis, games, invites members.–Secy., 2a, Clapham Park-road, S.W.4.” Moving forward to the first European Championships in 1926, subsequently designated World Championships (see Part 2 of this series), it was reported on 13th December that amongst the day’s radio broadcasts a talk “during the evening programme from 2LO will be by the Hon. Ivor Montagu on ‘table tennis’.” And probably a suitable point at which to end this trawl of early references is the notice that appeared in the edition of December 15th 1926: References: www.timesonline.co.uk/archive - edition of: 1 10, 11 March 1905

* The text of the whole letter is available from the author.

The Music of Table Tennis by Alan Duke

Thanks to Reiko Miyagawa for a correction to issue No.29. The entry for the music of The 37th World Table Tennis Championships (written by her husband, Hiroshi, and produced by Reiko) should show that the piece is entitled ‘Shiroi Kaze’ (meaning White Wind), and not performed by someone of that name! Please note that the lists in issues 29 and 49 are intended to be read together for a complete picture.

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Controversial Moments in the Heat of Battle

by Chuck Hoey

While the players always face challenges across thetable, the Umpires also have a demanding job, to ensurethat matches are conducted within the official rules. Theymust also perform at the highest standards of excellence,and require rigorous training and experience to meetsuch standards.

Nevertheless throughout Table Tennis history there havebeen numerous controversial moments during the heat ofbattle that have interupted play & presented the umpiresdifficult problems to quickly solve. This article focuses onsuch controversies, and I encourage our readers to senddetails about incidents from their experience, mainly fromtop international events.

1936 Prague There were many complaints in the 1936 World Championships, held in Prague. Most of the controversial situations arose because of poor quality tables that produced slow action, including the infamous

2+ hours first point of the Ehrlich-Paneth match in theTeams. ITTF President Ivor Montagu decried the com-plaints and in the aftermath advised against hystericalreactions. Against Vana Zdarsky had match point, butwas apparently bullied by a local official into defaulting.

In the ETTA magazine Montagu commented about theincident: “This, of course, was an absolute outrage, andthe man responsible should have been hanged, drawn,quartered, debagged ...” Talk about hysterical !

Vacant throne for 64 yearsThen the famous controversy in the 1937

World Championships, when both RuthAarons (USA) and Trude Pritzi (AUT) wereboth defaulted in Women’s Singles Finalfor violation of the new time limit rule,which was not consistently enforced. Ruth,the defending Champion, was so upsetthat she vowed never to play in the WorldChampionships again. They were declared co-championsin 2001.

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David Jackson red cards the coach of the Chinese teamduring the 2005 World Championships in Shanghai.

1947 World Championships, Paris In the first Worlds after the War, the defending Men’s Singles Champion was legendary Richard Bergmann,

who won in 1939. But a controversydeveloped, when he was not allowed to participate in theChampionships. Why? Because during the war yearshe played exhibitions for money, without the requiredpermissions. Seems rather a harsh technicality, as heneeded the money to survive in those difficult times.Richard responded with controversy: he went to Parisand paraded along the venue with a sign, claiming to bethe true World Champion and challenging anyone to amatch for £500. Bergmann won the title in 1937, 1939,1948 and 1950.

1948 World Championships, Wembley

There was quite a remarkable controversy during theWomen’s semifinals, between two great stars,Angelica Rozeanu (ROM) and Gizi Farkas (HUN),involving lack of understanding the 20-minute timelimit rule then in effect.In the decisive 5th game, the players were warned

after 18 minutes that there were 2 minutes remaining.After 20 minutes the score was 22-all. They thenshould have been warned “5 minutes more, the nextpoint decides,” according to the official statement inthe ETTA magazine (Table Tennis, April 1948).From 22-all, Rozeanu won the “decisive odd point”

several times. Matters became even more complicated at 24-all

when Rozeanu won the next point, but with service outof order. The scoring of this point would have givenRozeanu the Advantage, and having also won the nextpoint, the match.But another error: the umpire disallowed the point and

ordered a replay of service. At this point Rozeanutechnically had won the match twice! The game ultimately finished after 26 minutes at 29-

27 in Farkas’ favor. But the Jury declared the matchirregular “because it was not terminated by the Umpireand the Referee at the first point [after] 22-all, as itshould have been.” The match was ordered to bereplayed the next day; Farkas won, and she went onto take the title in the final over Vera Thomas (ENG).Farkas won the title again in 1949, but then Rozeanu

won a record-setting 6 consecutive Singles titles. Inthe first four of those finals she defeated her nemesisGizi Farkas, sweet revenge!

2003 World Championships, Paris BercyMen’s Doubles: KIM Taek Soo/OH Sang Eun (KOR) vs

CHEUNG Yuk/LEUNG Chu Yun (HKG). At 6-5 in the 7th game, a point awarded to the Koreans

created a long discussion ending with first a red card tothe Hong Kong coach CHANG Kong Wah and finally adisqualification of the Hong Kong pair. Hong Kong filed aprotest – which the jury rejected.

2008 Olympics, Beijing

Persson-Samsonov: A controversial edge ball happenedat a crucial moment. Play was interupted for at least 10minutes, with several replays shown on the big screen.Persson survived two match points and won, then beatPrimorac to reach the semis in his 6th Olympics, at 42 !

2009 US Championships: Men’s Quarterfinalists stageda walkout and refused to play unless the prize money wasincreased. A 15-year old did not join the boycott and wonthe national title. Guys, entering event = contract to play.

All together these incidents show how difficult the job ofan international umpire is, and how thoroughly they mustbe trained to handle every conceivable (or inconceivable!)situation that might arise. An old saying applies: If it CANhappen, it WILL happen.

Such controversial moments are isolated incidents,thanks to the great jobs by our umpires. Bravo!

1959 World Championships, Dortmund Chalk line?Ogimura had refused to play on when he

was alleged to have moved the table duringa rally and the dispute was not settled untila chalk line had been drawn round the feetof the table, so that there would be evi-dence of any further alleged movement.

1975 World Championships, Calcutta Rain delay?!Controversial, no; unprecedented, probably.Rain seeped through the roof of the newstadium and covered one of the playingareas - rain delay!

1979 World Championships, PyongyangITTF President Adham Sharara recalls an

incident in Pyongyang: A controversialpoint arose in a match that involved aNorth Korean player. The North Koreanumpire refused to award the point to theopponent, so she grabbed and hugged the point flipcards so the score could not be changed!

1983 World Championships, TokyoThere was a foot stomping controversy that interupted

the Danny Seemiller-Cai Zhenhua match. A warningwas issued, then a point taken, followed by an appeal.The refereee became involved, and by the time an inter-preter was brought in, and the matter resolved, fully 20minutes had passed.

1989 World Championships, Dortmund

Colin Clemett tells the story: In the men's team final,Waldner was playing Jiang Jialiang and Jiang was faul-ted for throwing the ball in service upwards from belowthe level of the playing surface. The 2nd time this happe-ned Jiang refused to continue unless the umpire wasreplaced and there was a long delay (about 16 minutes)while the Referee and the Rules Committee debated theissue.

In the end the German umpire was replaced so that thematch, which was being televised live, could continue.This caused great resentment among the other umpiresand there were threats of a walk-out, forestalled byOgimura circulating a letter exonerating the Referee fromhis part in the decision, confirming that the umpire hadacted correctly and explaining why the umpire had beenreplaced. The worst mistake that was made by the Jury -of which I was a member - was not to realise that theplayer's protest had no validity in a team event, where aprotest can be made only by the team captain; in thiscase the team captain/coach sat silent and certainly didnot back the player. Allegedly during the discussionWaldner said "Let him have the point, I'm going to beathim, anyway!" 9

McLoughlin (NY) boxed set with free-standing net, c.1902. $375

AuctionAuction ActionAction

Prices for the 1961 World Championship sheetof 4 continue to rise, largely driven by generalcollectors of Chinese stamps. $1002

Horsman (USA) set in wood box, fine color lithograph, a reasonable$240 without the usual price-distorting bidding war.

POM-POM or Table Tennis boxed set, with rare rules pamphlet andtube of balls, familiar wood bats, box distressed, $510

Colorful boxlid litho showing stone-age Table Tennis,on a boxed set that sold for only £13

The earliest books from 1902 alwaysattract competition. Mr Eames: £245

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Attention bidders! In the Winterissue we saw amazing bidding warsresulting in artificially high prices.The reality is reflected in a recentauction: Bussey 1902 set £50,Ping-Pong or Gossima set in woodbox, £45, same in carboard box,£40. Large lot of boxed sets fromthe 20s-30s, £18, old Slazengerset, £10. Hope the eBay wars endsoon and collectors can stop beingmere spectators.

Sold!

A 1902 Lyon postcard, undivided back, from the series ofShakespeare quotes, sold for £20

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Chinese lianhuanhua, comicbook style story, 1970s. $39

Double-page engraving from The Sphere,May 1901, bargain priced at £9

Louis Wain greeting card, blank back, a rare card at a bargain $20

9cm French bronze figurine, a chopper! 10 Euros.

Familiar Mao scene, though more often found insilk or postcard format. This 25cm print was $5

NNRacket R

eportOur Racket Report features several

pyrographic wood rackets, most withgood design commanding high prices,but some surprises.

On the opposite end, a fine pair ofstrung rackets with attractive wrappedhandles went unnoticed and sold foronly £43, a tremendous bargain!

But the biggest surprise is a fretworkbat that fetched £1240.

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Fine example of an earlypyrographic wood racket,with intricate design overthe entire surface. Theother side (Right) with target design. .£560

Beautiful pyrographic wood racket with Art Nouveaufloral design, sold for $405 Compare with Left

Somewhat amateur looking art, slightly offcenter, but a strong price at $418

$203, Art Nouveau style on handle & head

£43 - an amazing bargain for this fine pairof strung rackets. 16 inches in length. Thisstyle was made in different sizes, includingfor Lawn Tennis

Beautiful Stiga Flisan Expert thick waffle sponge racket from the1950s, rare in original box. 3325 Krona

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Fretwork bat with an oval shaped head. Fretwork rackets are among themost attractive early rackets, with such intricate wood cutting. Also foundwith a round and a square shaped head. A surprise at £1240

Dunlop Barna set with pair of Barna hard rubber bats, inthe classic brown color. $385

STIGA Alser “Championof Europe” 1136 SEKSTIGA Mellis 56 hardbatblade sold for $228V. Purkart, $30, seldomseen.

Meet CollectorMike Babuin (USA)

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I am pleased to introduce Mike Babuin, a geologist andenvironmental engineer from Cary, North Carolina (USA).Mike is an avid Table Tennis player since the early 1970s; heplays several times a week, and is now famous for hisannual Cary Cup tournament, a national level event whichattracts international players as well. The Cary Cup eventalso includes a hardbat event - progressive thinking!

Mike began serious collecting in 2001, especially TableTennis programs from any country, old books and cards, andautographed items. His favorite items are programs: “To me,a table tennis program is a slice of history that otherwisewould be lost in the sands of time. So in addition to the joy ofreading the player bios, comments, and viewing the pictures& adverts, a program represents the historical basis for whathappened at that particular point in time.”

As shown in these photographs from his website: www.carytta.net/tabletennismuseum.htm

Mike has established a museum based on his collection. Heis also on the Board of Directors of the USA Table TennisAssociation. We salute Mike for his Table Tennis passion!

Mikewants to resurrect

classic hardbat play to anew level, by large tournaments

with a lot of prize money to attracttop players. As part of that concept he

currently runs the US Classic Open,with unprecedented prize money in theUSA for hardbat Table Tennis.

Mike is also intrigued by “Liha” styleplay, as practised in the Philippines,using sandpaper rackets, where the

players are “lihadors”. Check outthe impressive liha action on

youtube by searchingon “liha”.

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Mike is looking for World ChampionshipPrograms, English Open Programmes(older the better), and any table tennisprogram - regional, city or otherwise.Autographed photos and books (anycountry). He has duplicates of severalitems so is always up for trading. Also, American table tennis Topicsmagazines (the older the better) andAmerican Ping Pong Association news-letters/magazines. Happy to trade foritems that he needs for his collection.

Contact Mike by e-mail at:mike.babuin@townofcary.org

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Please send your contribution for the philatelic pages to: Jos Zinkstok Neckarstraat 8 NL-9406 VN ASSEN The Netherlands E-mail: j.zinkstok@poveia.nl

STAMPS and SHEETS

Philatelic Pages Jan Nusteleijn and Jos Zinkstok continue the regular contribution about table-tennis stamps, post-marks and other of philatelic interest

Georgia: 2008 29th Olympic Games Beijing. 4 sheets with different stamps of sports with 4 table-tennis tabs in different colours

China: 2008 29th Olympic Games Beijing. Sheet with 16 identical stamps and 16 tabs with different sports

Slowakia: 12.09.2008 29th Olympic Games Beijing. Sheet with 8 identical stamps and 8 tabs with different sports

Guinee Bissau: 2009 Champions of Table-Tennis. Sheet with Wang Hao, Wang Nan, Wang Liqin, Liu Guoliang, Zang Yining and Kong Linghui

Guinee Bissau: 2009 Champions of Table-Tennis. Sheet with Guo Yue, Wang Liqin, Wang Nan and Wang Hao

The Netherlands: 01.06.2008 personalized stamps of collector Hans van Hensbergen celebrating 25 years of engagement at Philips

Hongkong: 05.12.2009 East Asian Games. Sheet with several sports

All stamps showed at 100% and sheets showed at about 50%

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CANCELLATIONS

Comores: 2009 Two souvenirsheets pictured Wang Hao, Timo Boll and Jean Philippe Gatien (sheet above) and Timo Boll, Jean Philippe Gatien, Ma Lin, Jacques Secretin, Wang Liqin and Zoran Primorac (sheet right)

China: 2009.5-23-8.23 China TT Super Leaque City: Changshu (also in black)

China: 2009.05.15 50th WTTC in Yokohama. City: Fuzhou

China 2009.05.15-05.31 50th WTTC in Yokohama City: Fuzhou

China: 2009.08.08 National Fitness Day City: Changshu (also in red)

China: 2009.08.08 National Fitness Day (also OG Beijing) City: Dongyoing (also in red)

China: 2009.06.30 16th Asian Games City: Yuhuan

All cancellations showed at about 100%

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China: 2009.10.11-16 11th National Games City: Yancheng (also in red), City: Changshu (both at the top of the page), Qiqihen Post Office and City: Fuzhou

India: 2009.11.16 19th Asian Table-Tennis Championships held in Lucknow

Germany: 2009.11.04 two bluemeter slogans (left cancellation only the slogan) referring to the European Top-12 2010 held from 6-7 February 2010 in Düsseldorf with or without text 'par Avion' (also several other texts are known)

Germany: 2009.11.20 two bluemeter slogans (right cancellation only the slogan) referring to the German Open 2010 held in Berlin from 18-21 March with or without text 'par Avion' (also several other texts are known)

Germany: 2010.03.25 bluemeter slogan referring to Men's World Cup 2010 held in Magdeburg from 29-31 October

For their contribution to these pages we want to thank Tang Ganxian, Winfried Engelbrecht, Hans van Hensbergen, Gao Yi-Bin and Anton Zwiebel

LIHAThe Art of the

Sandpaper Racket

These beautiful “Liha” rackets, extensively inlaid with shell, werehandcrafted by Peter Cua of the Philippines, where the players areknown as Lihadors and the sandpaper style of Table Tennis is verypopular. Peter is a passionate ambassador of Liha, and he is forging ahead with promoting the game internationally.

Peter and his colleague Oscar Yoshihiro, Secratary General of thePhilippines TT Association, presented their report about Liha to theITTF Sciences Congress at the 2009 World Championships inYokohama. They note that a sport can have its variations, forexample, Tennis is played on different surfaces.

Having grown up using a sandpaper racket, I can well relate tothe popularity of this style of Table Tennis, which often features longrallies of attack, defence and counterattack. The crisp sound of thesmash, the persistent returns, are almost hypnotic, with greatcrowd appeal.

The sandpaper racket was banned by omission in the 1959 ITTFRacket Standardization laws, when all the focus was on solving thesponge racket controversy.

A Filipino delegation has been invited to the US Open, which willinclude a Liha event. Congratulations to Peter Cua for his valiantefforts to revitalize a great style of Table Tennis in the internationalarena.

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International Ambassador for Liha TableTennis, Peter Cua of the Philippines.

Peter’s exquisite rackets are extensively inlaid with shell native to the Philippines, including the full grip,and all around the edges of the blade. He has also inlaid the national flag of the Philippines at the topof the handle. The etched dragons are in raised relief for better grip. Bravo Peter!

BookBookCornerCorner

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Matthew Syed (ENG) has authored a book with an intriguingtitle: “BOUNCE - Mozart, Federer, Picasso, Beckham, andthe Science of Success”. The book was released on 20 April,2010, so we have not yet received a copy for our Library.Matthew is an outstanding defensive specialist and also anexcellent tv presenter, commentator and sports analyst. Hiswork at the Beijing Olympics was impressive. So I have nodoubt the book will also be a good read. One prominentTable Tennis coach has already remarked that it is requiredreading for his students. Congratulations Matthew!

“From Palm to Power - the Evolution of theRacket.” by Peter Maxton. This actually has noTable Tennis content, but it illustrates the evolutionof the racket from the earliest days of Jeu dePaume, to the modern tennis racket. There aresome delightful early illustrations with racket motifthrough the ages. Recommended for those whoenjoy ancient sporting history, though most of thebook is about tennis rackets. 63 pages, publishedin 2008 by the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum,and available at their online shop.

The incomparable Matthew Syed

The amazingly prolific Tim Boggan, the world’sultimate Table Tennis historian, has releasedvolume 10 of his History of U.S. Table Tennis. Available from the author: timboggan@aol.comAn unprecedented series, filled with historic photos, fascinating anecdotes, and results.

Celebrity SightingsSend your sightings to:

museum@ittf.com

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Actors Robert Redford and Paul Newman enjoying a Table Tennis breakduring filming hit movie Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid in 1969

Golfer Phil Mickelson, who recently won histhird Masters green jacket in Augusta

Beautiful Audrey Hepburn’s smilesays it all: Table Tennis is fun!

French President Nicolas Sarcozy

Rock group Pearl Jam in concert with Table Tennis!

Russian pole vault legend Sergey Bubka

ColCol lector Dirlector Directoryectory

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Carlos Acevedo, Venezuelaearly Table Tennis itemscarlosacevedo69@cantv.net

Günther Angenendt ebay ID: thorin2001Langacker 10a 44869 Bochum, Germany

/Fax: +49-2327-77117 ttanpp@gmx.dePre-war World Ch. programs; all TT itemsGerman boxed sets & bats; TT pins

Jorge ArangoCl. 10 No. 25 - 103 Ap. 116 Medellin, Colombiajharango@epm.net.co ebay ID: nofrah37Philatelic & general TT items

Michael L. Babuin, PhDP.O.Box 3401, Cary N.C. 27519 USAmike.babuin@townofcary.orgpre-1905 books (any language), copies of old films,programmes ebay ID: sircules

Oliver Born Germanyborn4TT@freenet.de www.old-butterfly.deOld Butterfly rackets, especially Korpa

Keith Bowler14 Ewell Street, Balmain, N.S.W.

2041 Australia (02) 98104128Old magazines, publications up to 1961

Fabrice Chantriaux10 Rue des Chevrefeuilles F-45130 Saint-Ay

FRANCE 02.38.88.82.11 Fax: 02.38.46.94.29f.chantriaux@wanadoo.fr Stamps, cancels, post-cards, posters (major events) old papers on TT

Colin Clemett7 Brookmead Way, Havant PO9 1RT UKcolin@clemett.demon.co.ukHistorical documents

Fabio Colombo Italydrfabioc@gmail.comhttp://drfabiocolombo.ilbello.com/Table Tennis books, World Rankings. AuthorSeeking STIGA Stipancic rackets

Ron Crayden (ENG) in Memoriam

Andre Demeure Place de Mai, 10

B-1200 Brussels BELGIUM 02/770.55.29a.m.demeure@skynet.be Cancellations, redmeter, stationaries, stamps (perf+imperf), colorproofs, artist sheets, postcards, phonecards, coins

Jean Devys Residence La petite vigne20 rue Edgar Quinet A/16 F-59100 Roubaix

FRANCE 33.320828444 Fax: 33.320660849TT Philately, Cycling jean.devys@orange.fr

Axel DickhausAtzlenbacherf Str. 88D-51381 Leverkusen GERMANY

+49 (0)2171 32108 Fax: +49(0)2171.731478axel.dickhaus@freenet.de TT balls, phone cards

Alan Duke2 Shapwick Close Swindon WILTS.ENGLAND SN3 3RQ UK

+44-(0) 1793 531234 alan-duke2@talktalk.netHistory, music & photo record of TT items

Sergio DurazzanoVia Girardini 8, 33100 Udine ITALY

0432-21105 e-mail: durazzano@aruba.itstamps and historical books

Winfried EngelbrechtVirgiliastr. 21, D-45131 Essen Germany

+49 201 78 6795winfried.engelbrecht@imail.de

Philately: Stamps, FDCs, Sheets Postmarks,Phonecards, Books, tickets, stickers, W.C. Programs

Romualdas Franckaitis Lithuaniae-mail: rfranckaitis@gmail.com

Gao Yi-bin2-202 Lakeside Apartment, Jiangning,Nanjing. P.R.China 211100

+8625-5212 3334 gaoybd@yahoo.com.cnTT stamps, FDCs, postcards, phonecards, coins,medals, pins, cancellations

Roman Gelman Rgpinman@aol.com24 Taverngreen Court, Baltimore, MD 21209 USA

410-602-0267 TT pins,badges,medals

David George + 44-01236 872350No.1 Kingshill Cottages, Coatbridge Rd.Gartcosh GT69-8DS SCOTLAND UKBadges, keyrings, medals, olympics, pins

David Good710 N.Waverly, Dearborn, MI 48128 USA

+1 313 278 5271 dgood42@yahoo.com c.1900 sets, equipment, ephemera, memorabilia

Scott Gordon5340 Shelato Way, Carmichael, CA USA 95608

+1 916 457 8482 www.hardbat.comsgordon@hardbat.com Acquire: filmshistoric films; classic-era hardbats, old books

Gordan GotalMeduliceva 23 Zagreb 10000 Croatia

+3851 4848 687 mim-borovo@zg.htnet.hrExch: TT pins, medals, postcardsAcquire: Official badges from WC & EC (guest, orga-nizer, player, press, etc.)

Steve Grant NY, NY USAnyman455@yahoo.com ebay ID: prompt101Ping Pong Diplomacy Early 1900s Table Tennis

Gerald Gurney Guildhall Orchard, Great BromleyColchester, ESSEX CO7 7TU England

/Fax: +44-1206-230330All racket games, Table Tennis, Tennis, Badminton.All equipment, ephemera. Historian & author.Worldwide exhibitions. Also swimming items.Exch: boxed sets, postcards, books, rackets

Rex Haggett27 Meadow Close, Stratford-upon-AvonWarwickshire, CV37 9PJ, England

+44 (0) 1789 269352 rex.haggett@ntlworld.comInterests: Philately ebay ID:

Esko HeikkinenVaimoisenkatu 9 B 17, 00100 Helsinki, Finland+358 50 62532 esko.heikkinen@diacor.fiTT history, Stiga bats

Chuck Hoey Curator, ITTF MuseumChemin de la Roche 11 CH-1020 RENENS, Switzerlandmuseum@ittf.com Art bats, unusual bats, historicphotos, museum quality items

Martin Holland44 Victoria Road Barrow-in-FurnessCumbria ENGLAND BA14 5JUmjh44now@yahoo.co.uk Postcards, trade cards

Rolf Jaeger USA tennisheritage@aol.comTennis & Table Tennis itemsCustom jewelry: www.tennisboutique.com

Dean Johnson3404 Holly Road Virginia Beach, VA 23451 USA

(757) 478-3605 E-mail: djab2b@aol.com

Jean-Francois Kahn49 rue Léonardo da Vinci77330 OZOIR LA FERRIERE France

+33 1 40779762 jean-francois.kahn@upmc.fr TT philately : imperforated stamps, sheets, colourproofs, minister / artist sheets, errors, postmarks,red/blue meters, FDCs, specimens, etc.

Christian Klaus Möllersdorf Austria43.664.8546343 christian.klaus@agum.net

TT-stamps, cancels, postcards, FDCs, autographcards, historic photos, score-lists, magazines, news-papers, books, posters & memorabilia

Jan KleevenMargrietstraat 63, 6373 NN LandgraafNetherlands e-mail: sjang.kleeven@planet.nlPins, flags, pennants, stamps, phonecards,stickers

Matti KolppanenKollekannaksent 12E, FI-02720 Espoo, FInlandmatti.kolppanen@kolumbus.fiTT history, TT postcards

Randy KooTorenwacht 37 2353 DB Leiderdorp Netherlands

+31 071 5417413 rkoo@planet.nlStamps mint, special postmarks, red meters, FDC

Hans Kreischer Avenue les Comargues 2103111 Busot_Alicante SPAIN www.ttmuseum.nl

+34965698195 hanskreischer@hotmail.com

Kevin Lau, 7544 N.Claremont Ave.Chicago, IL 60645 USA Phone: 773-719-0860 Fax:773-338-1831 kevintennis@yahoo.comPhilatelic items, pins, coins, souvenir items, memorabilia, decorative items

ColCol lector Dirlector Directoryectory

23

Caron Leff 9201 LaLique Lane #1602 Ft. Myers, FL 33919 USAcsleff@aol.com Interests: pins

Francis Leibenguth 231 rue du Maréchal Oudinot 54000 Nancy - FRANCE

+33383578422 stanfl54-hardbat@yahoo.frVintage bats (especially hardbats), vintage setsSite: http://raquettes-collection.blog4ever.com/

Jorgen LindhEgnahemsgatan 13D S-43242 Varberg SWEDENjoli@mbox303.swipnet.se ebay ID: joliswede

Steve Luck, Essex, U.K.tennis@steveluck.freeserve.co.uk racket sports,rowing, billiards, croquet, archery – most sports

Fabio Marcotulli Venezuela lailagalvez@yahoo.com ebay ID: zappirosBarna rackets, TT items from all eras

Hubert Menand hubert.menand@laposte.netPresident, AFCTT (French TT Collectors Assoc)

Eldon Mohler 3910 Pecos-McLeod, A100Las Vegas. NV 89121 USAFax: +1-702-453-8472 eam2@ix.netcom.com

Erik Kenneth Muhr ENGLAND UK2 Highgate Hill, Hawkhurst KENT TN18 4LB

01580 752676 kenmuhr@btopenworld.comHistory of Table Tennis

Rudolf Muller Bahnhofstr. 58 D-57250

Netphen GERMANY 02738-1461Stamps, cancels, letter, error, red meter marks

Jan Nusteleyn Weserstraat 21, 9406 VP Assen The Netherlands

0592-356050 e-mail: nleyn@hotmail.comStamps, mint perforated FDCs red meters, cancels WC, EC, EC-Youth, Top-12

Robert Op de Beeck +03/455.41.59J.F.Willemstraat 66 2530 Boechout BELGIUM

Florian Pagel Germany flo.p@gmx.net Older bats: Banda, Stiga, Joola, Butterfly, Imperial

Gregory PinkhusovichApt.10, h.2 Sheshet Ha-Yamim StrAriel 40700 ISRAEL gpinkhusovich@yahoo.com +972-54-3394739 TTpins, badges, medals, coins

Jeong-Kye ParkP.O.Box 555 BUSAN 600-605 KOREA SOUTH

016 242 2075 fifaball@hanmail.netStamps, cancellations, covers

Robin Radford16 St Edmund Cr TAWA, Wellington, NZ

+64 04 232 5672 rradford@paradise.net.nzTT cartoons, comic strips, clip art

Jose Ransome”Conifers” Church Lane ORMESBYMiddleborough TS7 9AU ENGLAND

01642 322223 ajransome@aol.com

Geoff Reed 21 Beaulieu Park, St Helier. Jersey JE24RN reedgeo@googlemail.com

44.01534.730132 Table Tennis history

Helmut Reinhardt Lion-Fuchtwanger-Str. 6D-18435 Stralsund, GERMANY+49-(0)3831-397141 H.Reinhardt-Stral@t-online.de

Lutz Schoenfeld Germany selling Table Tennis items on ebay ID: pongistee-mail: rulusch@t-online.de

Martin Senn St. Gallen, Switzerlande-mail: keys@swissonline.chSeeks old Stiga blades & catalogues

Luigi Simeoni luigi_simeoni@libero.itVia Ponte S.Pancrazio 2/a 37133 Verona ITALY

0039 045 532033 TT Balls, catalogue available

Harry Sintemaartensdijk Julianastraat 8,2651 DP Berkel en Rodenrijs The Netherlands.

0031 105114621 harry.smd@wanadoo.nlTischtennis Aufklebers/stickers

Tang Gan XianQing Hu 4-35-104, ChangShu 215500 P.R.China

86-512-52722359 tangganxian@yahoo.com.cnPhilately: TT stamps, FDCs, postmarks, postcards,phonecards,tickets, pins

Marc Templereau16 Hameau des cerisiers 38150 Roussillon FranceSecretary, AFCTT (French TT Collectors Assoc)website: http://afc3t.free.frCollections : stamps, FDC, players postcards, auto-graphs, programs e-mail: tpam@free.fr

Michael Thomson 1 Kinnoull Terrace, PERTHPH2 7DJ SCOTLAND UK

01738 622052 ebay ID: thetartatraderthomsonmfamily@blueyonder.co.ukJaques and history of Table Tennis

Solazzi Tonino Via Millefonti 6 / 5 10126 Torino, Italy00393391870279 solton66@virgilio.itTable Tennis pins

Hans-Peter TrautmannSiegfriedstr. 17 64385 Reichelsheim GERMANYhpt@hptrautmann.de ebay ID: hpt146Stamps mint, perforated, imperforated, sheets,color proofs, minister/artist sheets, postmarks,errors, red/blue meters

Graham Trimming Rosemount Juniper LaneWooburn Green, Bucks HP10 0DE England

+44 (0) 1628 529609graham.trimming@virgin.netAll TT items pre-1939, esp. c.1900sAcquire: Gossima 1891; other early unusual items;early World Ch items. ebay ID:graham-ttcollector

Nikola TurkUlica Pavla Hatza 26, Zagreb 10000 Croatianikola.turk@zg.t-com.hrSport historian, Sport-recreation activist, journalistProfessor of Kinesiology, Philatelic collector

Damir UzorinacPrilaz Gjure Dezelica 20 10000 Zagreb Croatia

Damir.Uzorinac@pliva.hr 38598474982 Books, pins, stamps, cancellations

Russ Walker4316 Irving Ave N, MPLS MN 55412 USA

+1-612-522-7905rj_wal@msn.com ebay ID: russw58Early 1900s equipment & boxed sets

Yao Zhenxu Room 401 Unit 1 Building 2No. 4 Dongsikuaiyu South StreetChongwen District, Beijing 100061, China

+86-13911990508 cttayao@china.com TT stamps, FDC, postcards, coins, phonecards, pins,postal material, tickets etc.

Jos ZinkstokNeckarstraat 8 NL9406 VN ASSENThe Netherlands

+31 592 350486 Fax: 0031 592 355861j.zinkstok@poveia.nl website: www.poveia.nlTT cancellations, stamps, vignettes, on real used letters/covers/cards, FDC ebay ID: joszi_nl

Anton ZwiebelKerkweg 30, 9439 PG Witteveen, Netherlands

+31 593 552788 a.zwiebel@hotmail.comExch: Stamps, cancellations, postcardsAcquire: postcards ebay ID: pongist

Mystery PhotoIssue #55

Libuse Uhrova & Gunther Angenendt sent inthe correct info: 1963 World Team Champs,China (L-R): Wang Chia-sheng, Li Furong,Chang Chi Lin, Fu Chi Fang (coach), ZhuangZedong, and Xu Yinsheng. China’s secondSwythling Cup win.

DAVID GEORGE writes that he is sellingitems from his collection, including pins,programs, keychains, and other TableTennis memorabilia. See his listing in theDirectory, page 22, for contact info.

Heavy Metal

© ITTF Museum 2010 Published by the ITTF Museum: Chemin de la Roche 11, CH-1020 RENENS, SWITZERLANDe-mail: museum@ittf.com Website: www.ittf.com/museum

No part of this journal may be reproduced without prior consent of the publisher

This edition of Heavy Metal featuresa fine set of gold, silver and bronzecommemorative medals from the2008 World Championships. Theyare encased in acryllic with engraving“Evergrande Real Estate 49th WorldTeam Table Tennis Championships.”

Also yet another sponsor pin fromthe 2008 Beijing Olympics - I confessthat I have lost count of all the Beijingpins!

How many will be issued for London2012? The first two have arrived, aspictogram pins.

Can it be - yet another pin from the Beijing2008 Olympics!!

Set of Commemorative Medals from the 2008 World Team TableTennis Championships held in Guangzhou, China, with thanks toYao Zhenxu of China.

Official pictogram pins for the 2012 Olympic Games (L)and the Paralympic Games (R)