InfoAnda - Londoners rediscover 'trendy' ping pong

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

TomTom to increase staff, expects more car deals: paper | | 24 December 2010
Weather forecast for the Asia-Pacific region | 11 March 2010
Iranian reformer freed on $700,000 bail: report | International | | 22 November 2009

Key players in Iran's disputed election | 18 June 2009

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Londoners rediscover 'trendy' ping pong

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Asia Pacific World Londoners rediscover 'trendy' ping pong AFP - Friday, July 23 Send IM Story Print Londoners rediscover 'trendy' ping pong LONDON (AFP) - – A table tennis craze is set to sweep the British capital this summer with 100 ping pong tables popping up around the city, as the sport sheds its geeky image to become the latest urban trend. The four-week Ping! festival, which kicked off on Thursday, hopes to tap into the game's growing popularity in a bid to get more British people to play sports by the time the Olympic Games take place in London in 2012. The initiative, supported by the English Table Tennis Association (ETTA), will see 100 tables crop up in parks, museums and shops across the capital, and even Heathrow Airport is getting in on the action. Table tennis is the world's second most popular sport after football, with over 300 million registered players. Although it was invented by the British, it is much more widely played in Asian countries. The Chinese consider it their national sport. But ping pong is undergoing a radical image change in Britain, and where it was once seen as a nerdy activity, it is now being embraced by hip city dwellers. "It's becoming a lot more trendy," Diccon Gray, the ETTA's facilities and delivery manager, told AFP. "It's being played in a number of bars now and we want to ride on the crest of the wave here." Also jumping on the bandwagon is the pop-up Ping Pong Parlour, a temporary table tennis cafe in central London's fashionable Carnaby Street area. "It's a very sociable game and slightly quirky," Meera Sodha, manager of the Ping Pong Parlour, told AFP. Part of the appeal is that it is "easy to set up and easy to learn", says Gray. "You can have lots of fun in a short space of time and that appeals to busy city people." Which might explain why Charlie Evans, 32, dropped by after work. "I saw it advertised on the Internet and thought I'd give it a try," he says, still wearing a tie as he waits for his turn at the table, racket at the ready. He adds that he still thinks ping pong is "a bit geeky", but says that's part of the fun. "It's a geek-chic thing, isn't it?" The game also received a boost from ping-pong loving celebrities like Damon Albarn, the frontman of British band Blur, and Hollywood actress Susan Sarandon. But London is not alone in rediscovering the joys of table tennis. One of the first to embrace "trendy" ping pong was the Dr. Pong bar in Berlin, which offers a musical chairs version of the game and gets up to 20 punters involved, often playing with a beer in one hand and a bat in the other. And in New York, Sarandon co-owns the wildly successful ping pong club SPiN and recently revealed she plans to open two more table tennis clubs in Los Angeles and Milwaukee. Invented in Victorian-era England, the game then known as "whiff whaff" is thought to have started out as after-dinner entertainment, with players using books as rackets and champagne corks for balls. It became an Olympic sport in 1988, and Chinese players have dominated the medal tables ever since. Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary Reuters - Friday, July 23 Guillermo del Toro enters "Haunted Mansion" Reuters - Friday, July 23 MTV gets top marks for gay inclusion on shows Reuters - Friday, July 23 "Battle: Los Angeles" wows Comic-Con crowd Reuters - Friday, July 23 Helen Mirren honors Harvey Pekar at Comic-Con Reuters - Friday, July 23 News Search Top Stories Unique coral reef spurs Mexico tourism battle European banks face moment of truth Microsoft sales up as firm rides out fiscal crisis US Fed vows to act if jobs market flounders GM to buy auto lender in bid to stoke sales More Top Stories » Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended Beatles piano up for sale: auction house Monaco's playboy prince sets wedding date Nokia continues to struggle in smartphone market S.Africa's Tutu withdraws from public life Bernanke warns of 'uncertain' economic outlook More Most Viewed » Parachuting donkey shocks Russian beachgoers Paris Hilton caught with cannabis in handbag Germany's 'Octopus oracle' keeps perfect record More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo! Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Asia Entertainment Photos World Cup 2010 Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

Other News on Friday, 23 July 2010
EU envoys endorse sanctions against Iran
Berlusconi's coalition backs down on Italy wiretaps bill
Greed destroys Beirut's architectural legacy
German banking sector braces for stress test results
Strong US business interest in iPad: AT&T
Chavez breaks Colombia ties over rebel charges |
GM to buy auto lender in bid to stoke sales
US-TECH Summary
2 Americans killed in copter crash in Afghanistan
Mali confirms military action by border |
Mafia infiltrated rebuilding of Italian quake city
Baidu may press claims over hackers: U.S. judge
Hariri tribunal to accuse Hezbollah members: Nasrallah |
Pirate traders exploit Internet sales model : EU
Mubarak gives public speech after health rumors |
Health watchdogs sound alarm over TB/HIV deaths
Nokia profits drop, CEO wants exit talk to stop
US initial jobless claims rise more than expected
NY Times posts revenue growth, reversing slide
U.S. authorities say break Colombian drug ring |
Rocket attack kills 3 in Baghdad Green Zone |
Pressure mounts on Nokia CEO as Q2 earnings plunge
U.S. sends two Guantanamo detainees to Spain, Latvia |
Slovenians investigated for computer virus: report
Pilotless drones show new face of war at Farnborough
US resumes ties with Indonesian special forces
U.S. sanctions three Afghan financiers for Taliban
Nokia profits drop, CEO wants exit talk to stop
Ponting leads Australia revival against Pakistan
Pressure mounts on Nokia CEO as Q2 earnings plunge
US to resume ties with Indonesia's special forces
Japan's trainee programme 'human trafficking': lawyer
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt awarded damages over tabloid claim
Angry Foxconn chief warns on Taiwan investment plans
Baidu may press claims over hackers: U.S. judge |
Ponting joins Tendulkar in 12,000 club
Pirate traders exploit Internet sales model : EU |
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Freestyle dancer tWitch steps up into movies
Kevin the Possum halts Sydney monorail
Report asserts Mexican women exploited by US crab industry
Pacific islands seek UNESCO heritage honour
AIDS charity Life Ball raises 1.5 mln euros
Australian film probes mystery of dangling shoes
'Humiliated' British talent show reject sues TV show: report
Thriller with Natalie Portman to open Venice fest
Indian micro lender to launch IPO next week
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt awarded damages over tabloid claim
A Minute With: Guillermo del Toro at Comic Con
Simon Cowell sued by British Talent contestant |
Freestyle dancer tWitch steps up into movies |
Obama presses Iraqi leaders to end deadlock
Hariri tribunal to accuse Hezbollah members
'Terrorists' killed in Mauritanian raid
North Korea says U.S. military drills violate sovereignty |
Scotland refuses US Senate Lockerbie testimony
Unique coral reef spurs Mexico tourism battle
India develops world's cheapest "laptop" at $35
European banks face moment of truth
Kosovo independence declaration deemed legal |
'The Naked and the Dead' head for the Kindle
Microsoft sales up as firm rides out fiscal crisis
HP, Microsoft announces new tablet computer
Chavez cuts Colombia ties but fight seen unlikely |
US Fed vows to act if jobs market flounders
Microsoft reports record sales
Baidu hacker lawsuit can proceed in US court
U.S. blames fax for diplomatic gaffe over Russian |
Amazon profit soars but stock price sinks
Aid ships from Lebanon won't reach Gaza: Israel |
Twitter to fight outages with new data center
India develops world's cheapest "laptop" at $35
No ruling in hearing over Arizona immigration law
Kremlin aims to tighten screws on corrupt cops |
US to resume ties with Indonesia's special forces
FIFA clears Australia over World Cup bid
New China floods feared as Yangtze swells
Reform bills set for delay in noisy India parliament
N.Korea holds talks with UN Command on sunken ship
Pacific slum district a 'health risk' to residents: US Army
13 confirmed dead in China mine flood: media
Top Chinese negotiator to visit Taiwan
Thai drilling firm tells Indonesia to prove 'damage'
Protesters overshadow Australian PM's climate speech
Microsoft profit beats Street but stock unmoved |
Helen Mirren honors Harvey Pekar at Comic-Con
Lightning shuts Daesan, S.Korea refining, naphtha units
Australian model Miranda Kerr marries Orlando Bloom
US to freeze 100 suspect North Korean accounts: reports
India develops world's cheapest laptop at $35 |
Seoul shares rise 1.3 pct led by banks, techs
Pakistani c.bank buys 12.2 bln rupees of govt paper
Amazon profit misses as costs surge |
SK Energy says to expand battery mfg; JV with Vitol
Korea Hot Stocks-SK Energy gains after strong Q2 results
Air NZ fancies Queenstown Airport stake
Guillermo del Toro enters "Haunted Mansion"
PAKISTAN
PREVIEW-NZ central bank to raise rates for 2nd time next week
Seoul shares rise 1.3 pct led by banks, techs
MTV gets top marks for gay inclusion on shows
Baidu hacker lawsuit can proceed in US court
"Battle: Los Angeles" wows Comic-Con crowd
Helen Mirren honors Harvey Pekar at Comic-Con
Study shows inequalities in UK early deaths rising
Sister of Mel Gibson's ex under suspicion
"Salt" targets "Inception" at box office
Londoners rediscover 'trendy' ping pong
Australian model Miranda Kerr marries Orlando Bloom
Mel Gibson phone recording illegal, with exceptions |
Salt targets Inception at box office |
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt awarded damages over tabloid claim |
Sister of Mel Gibson's ex under suspicion |
MTV gets top marks for gay inclusion on shows |
Guillermo del Toro enters Haunted Mansion |
Helen Mirren honors Harvey Pekar at Comic-Con |
Battle: Los Angeles wows Comic-Con crowd |
Justin Bieber to guest star in TV crime drama CSI |
Australian model Miranda Kerr marries Orlando Bloom |
Israel to return impounded Gaza aid ships to Turkey
Dutch court fines company after I.Coast waste dump
17 injured in blast targeting Afghan candidate
North Korea threatens physical response to U.S. moves |
Former Taliban spokesman captured in Afghanistan
Ford posts $2.6bn profit in second quarter
Russia says ready to resume NATO military ties |
ARM signs new deal with Microsoft, shares leap
British recovery quickens with 1.1% quarterly growth
World trade to grow 10% in 2010: WTO
Thousands gather for Thai red rally before vote |
Fix budgets now, ECB chief tells top economies
Al Qaeda claims Yemen attacks, vows more strikes |
Ubisoft videogame sales nearly double
U.N. rights forum names team to probe Israel ship raid |
France, Mauritania in desert strike on al Qaeda |
Heiress Bettencourt relieved by ruling on daughter's lawsuit |
Israel to return impounded Gaza aid ships to Turkey |
Moody's warns of Hungary downgrade after IMF breakdown |
US wades into South China Sea disputes
U.S. won't move Marines from Japan by 2014: media |
Slain Calif. teen's sister urges killer to give up
US: Asia must resolve claims on disputed islands
Clinton denounces Myanmar's oppression at Asia meet
N.Korea threatens to respond to naval drills
China jails Uighur journalist for 15 years
Philippine typhoon death toll rises to 111
Apple's white iPhone 4 delayed, in latest headache |
Cambodians seek justice in "Killing Fields" verdict
Jazz singer Jarreau in critical condition in France
US singer Al Jarreau critically ill in French hospital
Amazon's weakness only for short term, say analysts |
Indian software exporter Wipro says profit up 31%
Popularity of morning-after pills fuels concerns in India
PREVIEW-Pakistani c.bank to keep rates steady for now
China's star blogger treads fine line
Deflation 'main threat' to Japan economy
ARM signs new deal with Microsoft, shares leap |
Jazz singer Jarreau in critical condition in France |
Bosnian Oscar-winner's film opens Sarajevo festival |
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01