Large Ball Ping-Pong tourney to kick off on Tinian

Japanese players are scheduled to arrive this week and participate in the first-ever Large Ball Ping Pong Tournament that kicks off this Friday, Oct. 10, at the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino.

The opening ceremonies for the daylong competition will start at 8am.

Budhi Gurung, vice president of the organizing Marianas Amateur Table Tennis Association, said the 12 Japanese players—eight women and four men—would be forming four teams.

They will play against two teams from Saipan and one from host Tinian.

Large Ball Ping Pong is becoming a worldwide competition. Gurung said it is very popular game in Japan.

“The fun is spreading throughout the world,” he said.

Instead of the regular or a smaller ball, an oversized 44mm ball, a taller 17.25cm net, and a blade that has pips out rubber with sponge is used.

Gurung said this kind of ball promotes longer rallies, less spin, and slower speed.

Manufacturers of the bigger ball from Korea and China theorized that the use of such a ball could improve a player’s performance.

The 40mm ball weighs in at 2.7 grams, compared to the old 38mm ball at 2.5 grams.

Accordingly, the bigger size makes the ball travel four to eight percent slower and reduces the effect of spin on the ball about 10 to 13 percent.

Proponents of the game also theorized that the intent was to make the rallies longer and in turn make the game more exciting for players and spectators.

Some of the Japanese players who are coming to the CNMI are former world table tennis players, including a 53-year-old Katsuyuki Abe. He was a 10-time singles champion in Large Ball.

There will be a doubles competition and team competition with the latter composed of three players with each player will see action in 12 total matches.

The team that wins five matches will be declared a winner.

Gurung said that the much-awaited competition is a special event for the 10th Annual Goodwill Table Tennis Tournament to be held the following two days Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11 and 12, at the same venue. Games start at 8am.

The separate event will be a regular table tennis competition using the smaller or standard ball among players from Saipan, Tinian, Guam, and Japan (men only).

As host, Saipan and Tinian will have the privilege to enter two teams each to play in singles, doubles, and team competitions.