[Zwetschg'nmanschgerl]

Dear Adham,

thank you very much for participating in this forum in such an active and at the same time patient way. Me, personally, I like playing with the 40mm ball and the 11 points per set-rule is ok, too. I've never used long pimples or speed glue, and your comparing speed glue to doping is somehow convincing. At the regional level, there are still difficulties in applying the rules though and, obviously, the players' sense of wrongdoing - as you've stated, that might be due to now being a time of change.

But for me some questions remain:

(1) In some of your posts you have pointed out that the ITTF is only competent/responsible for the international level - still you must be aware that your decisions have of course a direct impact on the national level. Technically, all member associations could keep or make their own rules, but I'd assume that the "UK-way" is an exception. And would the ITTF be happy with table tennis being played differently and with different material all over the world?

(2) In my opinion, one of the most fascinating - if not THE most fascinating - elements of table tennis is producing, perceiving and reacting to spin, the rotation of the ball. Its importance is, of course, known to any active player. But when spin is involved, it's sometimes hard to comprehend for the "non-player-" audience why a professional player has made a seemingly easy mistake. My assumption is, that this is a "natural" barrier for table tennis becoming the No.1 TV sport. What do you think?

(3) Or, more generally: do you agree, that there are natural limits in the capacity of table tennis as a TV sport?
(Btw, I'm very impressed that it's the No. 5 Olympic sport already.)

(4) It has shown that most spectators at table tennis events are themselves active players (assumingly at least partly due to No.(2)). So POPULARITY and PARTICIPATION are closely connected in our sport, probably more than in other sports.
Given this, shouldn't the ITTF and the national associations put more effort in keeping or gaining members than on tailoring table tennis to presumed requirements of the media? (45 mm ball, higher nets?!?)

(5) Are there serious concerns in the ITTF about frustrated members founding their own federation? Or is this regarded as unprobable or even a necessary evil?

Thanks, again, for your time and effort. Looking forward to reading from you,

Michae