ONLY ONE STATUS IN TABLE TENNIS

Southland Times, Issue 23676, 26 November 1938, Page 15

ONLY ONE STATUS IN TABLE TENNIS

The youngest of sport’s control bodies, the International Table Tennis Association, is first in the field with a declaration that, for competitive purposes, there is no distinction between amateurs and professionals. It has framed a rule for the purpose, to take effect next season. It describes all competitors, whether paid or belonging to the great unpaid, as “players.”

The rule has been worded in such a way that it does not bar professionals from competing in international or national tournaments with amateurs, yet prevents them from being paid for playing. Professionals may earn money by coaching, giving exhibitions, or by writing books on the game, but when they step into open competition there will be no financial rewards coming. Thus there will be no cause for “inducements” to be granted to leading amateurs (so-called), as there will always be professionals willing to compete, playing success being necessary to their standing as coaches and exhibitionists.

The governing body claims that open competition between professionals and amateurs is essential to progress, says a writer in The Sports Post, commenting on the rule. We have it in cricket, golf and football; in fact, it is only lawn tennis, Rugby and boxing, of the major sports, which disallow amateurs competing with or against professionals.

While, however, the table tennis people have dealt so effectively with the sham-amateur question, what effect will the decision to lump all competitors together as “players” have in the inner circles of lawn tennis? For competitive purposes there is to be no such person as a professional in table tennis . . . and it is well known that many players of lawn tennis also play the table game. What is going to- happen to lawn tennis amateurs who compete publicly against known professionals at table tennis?