[Olympic Table tennis History Episode] In Seoul in 1988, Table tennis finally became an Olympic event, but it changed the lives of two Chinese Players

It has been 36 years since Table tennis became an Olympic event in 1988. The Olympics, held once every four years, are often a major turning point in the history of world Table tennis.

Sometimes the Olympics lead to changes in rules or equipment; sometimes top Players leave the sport. Looking at the Table tennis world in Japan as well, the Olympics played a key role in the process of emerging from a period of stagnation to become a Table tennis powerhouse second only to China. Through the history of the Olympics, let’s feel the flow of world Table tennis.
*The photo shows Liu Nan-Kuei, who won the singles gold medal on home soil in South Korea

I was surprised that China left its reigning world champion out of the Olympic team

　The Olympic Games are divided into summer and winter editions, but Table tennis, long regarded as the greatest amateur event, was approved for Olympic participation in 1981, and the 1988 Seoul Olympics became its memorable first Olympics. This can be seen as the result of Samaranch, who became IOC President in 1980, opening the door to professionals, hoping to hold what was effectively the world’s highest-level event, and promoting commercialization. Around this time, top athletes in socialist countries were called “state ams,” and, as competitors who made a living from sport with state support, they were essentially professional Players.

　Another important requirement for becoming an Olympic event is that the sport be popular on every continent, and Table tennis met that condition perfectly.