Table Tennis takes centre stage in Dubai.Ping Pong Dubai leads efforts to promote table tennis among the masses in Dubai.
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00:00Table tennis, also known as ping pong, is enjoying a much-deserved time in the spotlight
00:12in the UAE as residents look for more indoor activities to enjoy in the summer months.
00:18It is easy to play and also serves as a great social outlet, which is why residents of different
00:23nationalities and from different walks of life are playing the sport.
00:29I think playing table tennis will help me hone my skills and get fit again.
00:35Two or four players can play at a time.
00:38Players hit a lightweight ball back and forth across a table using a small paddle.
00:43Ping Pong Dubai is a group in Dubai that is promoting the sport.
00:46It is a non-profit initiative between the UA Table Tennis Association, Dubai Sports
00:51Council and Falcon and Associates.
00:53The UAE has also tied up with table tennis superpower China to popularize the game in
00:58the country.
00:59You can find many talented players here and also we are happy to see many young players
01:04here.
01:05They are very talented and they are hard-working.
01:06We are trying to teach them and encourage them to also become international players
01:11and compete at the international level with the top players around the world.
01:15Ping Pong Dubai officially got underway in June 2013 at Dubai Sports World.
01:20Thousands of players from novice to expert have benefited from the program's free-to-use
01:25tables and have participated in its tournaments.
01:28The group has set up 12 tables that are free-to-use at Dubai Sports World inside the Dubai World
01:33Trade Center.
01:34There are also free lessons.
01:37We have five academies in the UAE.
01:40They can join with us.
01:43They can try to play, especially this game.
01:46They can play from young players to old players.
01:50They can play in the company, they can play at home, they can play in the school.
01:54It's a very famous game now.
01:57The group aims to encourage people from all walks of life to pick up a paddle and be more
02:02physically active.
02:03It will also be organizing table tennis events in various communities.
02:07Table tennis has many well-known health benefits, which makes it a great form of physical exercise.
02:13We take players from young for five years.
02:18In the beginning, we have to teach him techniques.
02:20It's very important to teach him techniques to improve.
02:24It's very important to teach him how to play forehand and backhand, and chop backhand,
02:29chop forehand.
02:30It is most important, and they know they have to play, they know technique correct.
02:37They can improve very fast, and we have to focus on them from the beginning.
02:43We have to be patient, we have to concentrate.
02:46This sport is very difficult for hand and eye coordination.
02:51You need to also have fast reaction.
02:53You have to take fast decision within one second.
02:57You have to be very flexible, you have to be very fast, you have to take always the
03:00correct position for every single rally, every single ball that you play.
03:05As an easy-to-learn sport with a rich tradition, table tennis appeals to a large across section
03:11of the society, regardless of age, ability or fitness.
03:15Irish Eden Galeazza for Golf News.
03:23www.globalonenessproject.org