The Most Famous Table Tennis Players Of All Time

An outsider would think that playing table tennis is a simple sport. To be the top player in table tennis, you must practise consistently and keep your attention on the game because playing at the professional level is not simple. There have been many players that have come and gone, but only a select number are regarded as the finest of all time. In this post, we will rank the finest table tennis balls players who ever lived and have continuously dominated the sport. 

Jan-Ove Waldner 

Jan-Ove Waldner, a Swedish native, is one of the greatest non-Chinese players in the history of table tennis. When he was 16 years old and beginning his career, it was 1998. Jan-Ove earned several Swedish, European, and Olympic medals over his lengthy career. 

One of Jan-most Ove's notable triumphs occurred in 2010, when he defeated Pär Gerell, who was born the year before he won his first Swedish Championship. This was his ninth Swedish championship victory. 

Additionally, Jan-Ove is one of just five athletes who have ever finished a Grand Slam career. He is regarded as a living legend of the sport with achievements like these, and that is not an exaggeration. 

Liu Guoliang 

The second of five players in the history of table tennis to complete a career Grand Slam by winning the World Championships, the World Cup, and an Olympic Gold during his playing career is Liu Guoliang, the current coach of the Chinese table tennis team. 

Guoliang is known for taking home at least one victory in every major competition, such as the World Cup, Olympic Games, and World Championships. In 2018, Guoliang was also chosen to lead the Chinese Table Tennis Association. 

Deng Yaping 

Deng Yaping was formerly regarded as a tennis prodigy, but owing to her low stature, she had to give up the sport before she could pursue a professional career. 

She subsequently switched to table tennis, joined the Chinese national team in 1988, and won her first women's doubles world championship that year. Yaping won the most titles ever in the 1990s among both male and female table tennis players. Yaping was also admitted into the ITTF hall of fame and chosen as the Chinese athlete of the century. 

Ma Long  

Ma Long is the current Olympic singles champion and a competitive table tennis player. Long, who is recognised as the best table tennis player of all time, began his career in 2004 by winning the Asian and Junior titles. 

His career has only advanced since that time. Long is the first male player in history to have won every single title in the sport and one of just five notable athletes to accomplish a Grand Slam career. 

Kong Linghui  

ex-world number one Kong Linghui was born in Harbin, China, in 1975. He is well recognised for becoming the third tennis player to have complete a career grand slam. In the men's doubles competition of the 1996 Olympics, Kong took home a gold medal. 

He proved to be a formidable opponent four years later when he captured gold in the singles and doubles competitions at the 2000 Summer Olympics. The women's national team of China is currently coached by Kong. One of the all-time greats in the sport, Kong Linghui, retired in 2006 after a long career.