TABLE Tennis is a game that requires precision and skill, but eagle–eyed viewers spotted an unusual Olympic player habit.
During the 2024 games, the players would wipe the table and blow on their rackets. So what is the reason behind this peculiar ritual?
Who competed in table tennis for Team GB at the Paris Olympics?
Anna Hursey and Liam Pitchford are the two table tennis stars representing the UK at the 2024 Olympics.
Liam was knocked out by Darko Jorgic, despite beating Vicky Wu by a comfortable margin just the day before.
Paris 2024 was his fourth Olympic appearance.
Sadly, Anna was eliminated too, before winning a medal.
The 18-year-old is the first Welsh table tennis player to represent the UK at the Olympics.
Anna is one of the youngest table tennis players at the Olympics, but one of the oldest will not be returning.
Zhiying “Tania” Zeng, the 58-year-old who appeared at the Tokyo 2020 Games, has said that she will not be returning to represent Chile.
At the Paralympics, Will Bayley, fresh from his appearance on Strictly Come Dancing, will play alongside Bly Twomey for Team GB.
Why do table tennis players touch the table?
Table tennis players often touch the table to wipe sweat from their hands.
The game requires you to have tight control, so players need to avoid the racket slipping in their hands.
Sometimes, though, players wipe their hands simply out of habit.
Just as a tennis player may bounce the ball before their serve, some table tennis players wipe their hands.
It’s a good strategy for appearing confident and relaxed in front of an opponent too.
The final reason for touching the table is that it wastes time during the game, allowing a player in the lead to wait out the clock.
Why do table tennis players blow on their paddle and the ball before serving?
Players blow on their paddles and their ball for the same reason that they wipe the table: to get rid of sweat.
A racket can absorb humidity and sweat, which will slow down the game when the player returns the ball.
If the players sweat a lot, since table tennis is such a physically demanding sport, the ball can get wet too.
A wet ball can prevent the racket’s rubber from gripping it, which can make a player miss their shot.
What's happening today at The Games?
WHAT TO WATCH TODAY...
TODAY’S BRIT MEDAL HOPES
Water takes centre stage on Day 6 as Joe Clarke eyes canoe slalom kayak gold (4.30pm).
In the rowing, the women’s four should claim gold while the men’s four and women’s double sculls will know they can get on the podium, too (10.15am).
And after our men won the 4x200m freestyle relay, the women could add a medal in the pool tonight (8.48pm).
BRITS TO WATCH
Defending champ Beth Shriever and Tokyo silver medallist Kye Whyte begin their BMX racing event at the quarter-finals (from 7pm).
Bryony Pitman (9am), Penny Healey (4.14pm) and Alex Wise (5.05pm) are all in archery action.
Andy Murray’s swansong with Dan Evans continues – they face Americans Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul in the quarter-finals (3.30pm).
And the golf starts today, meaning Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick will tee off for GB, with Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry flying the flag for Ireland (from 8am).
GLOBAL STARS TODAY
World No1 Scottie Scheffler leads an all-star USA golf team, though, alongside Open champ Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa and Wyndham Clark.
French Open champ Iga Swiatek is the heavy favourite for the women’s tennis singles gold ahead of her semi-final before Carlos Alcaraz then Novak Djokovic go in the men’s quarters (from 11am).
FANCY SOMETHING DIFFERENT?
Volleyball is an ever-present throughout the Olympics, running from Day 1 all the way to Day 16, all of it in the catchy-named South Paris Arena 1.
Tokyo runners-up Brazil face Japan (12pm) and hosts France vs China (8pm) in the pick of the clashes.
STATS MAD
3:50 – Who doesn’t love a competitive brisk walk?
The athletics officially begins with the men’s and women’s 20km race walks today (6.30am and 8.20am).
The world record is a staggering 1:16.36 – that’s an average of 3m50s per km while WALKING.
Follow all the action as it unfolds with our Paris 2024 Olympics LIVE blog.
