Gossima: The Culture of Ping Pong

Li Ning

If you haven't already heard of Li Ning Company Limited, you will soon. I predict that within five to ten years it will be one of the largest sporting apparel companies in the world. Li Ning Company Limited was founded in Beijing in 1990 by world-renowned gymnast, Li Ning, who is most famous for winning 6 medals at the 1984 Summer Olympics. Li-Ning Company Limited is the official apparel sponsor for the Chinese National Table Tennis Team as well as for top Chinese players, and is now also the apparel sponsor for the U.S. Table Tennis team.

He'll Be Back - Stronger, Faster, Smarter - TOPIO

photo from TOSY

"The machines rose from the ashes of the nuclear fire..., but the final battle would not be fought in the future. It would be fought here, in our present."

The Table Tennis Ball Collection Part 2

I originally posted an entry about Stanislaw Schmidt's collection of table tennis balls back in September. The post can be found here. His collection includes over 1,000 unique table tennis balls. You can see the collection of balls at the Web site ttballe.org.  The balls are categorized by rating, size, ball color, stamp color and design, number of stars, country of origin, and information about the producer. If you are a collector, this is an incredible resource. He exchanges balls; just look for the exchange link under the individual balls. 

Here are more my favorites: a 38mm Schildköt ball from Germany; a 38mm Rabbit ball, country unknown; and a Giant Dragon 40mm ball from China.

                 

Images © Stanislaw Schmidt 2006-2009

The Table Tennis Ball Collection

Stanislaw Schmidt has collected and continues to collect table tennis balls. His collection is now over 1,000 unique table tennis balls. You can see the collection of balls at the Web site ttballe.org. If you are looking for information about table tennis balls, this is an incredible resource. The balls are categorized by rating, size, ball color, stamp color and design, number of stars, country of origin, and information about the producer. If you are a collector, he exchanges balls; just look for the exchange link under the individual balls. 

Here are a few of my favorites: a 38mm Schildköt ball from Germany; a classic 38mm Butterfly ball from Japan; and an unnamed 38mm ball, also  from Germany.

 

Images © Stanislaw Schmidt 2006-2009