Ready, steady, rally: UK celebrates the magic of table tennis

Elkenah Gordon can't stop smiling. 

The 16-year-old from London is telling me about his journey as a table tennis player. We're in his school's assembly hall, the sound of pinging balls echoing as his teammates start to warm up. 

"I had to choose between table tennis and football when I was 12," says Elkenah. "This sport has really helped me. I've managed to control my emotions a lot better. Everything is just better, physically and mentally."

Elkenah was part of Britain's Greatest Rally, an event marking 50 days to the start of the World Team Championships in London. Organizers were aiming for 100,000 rallies, or games, at schools and clubs across the UK.  

"The world championships give people a chance to see the sport," says Chris Brown, head of development at Table Tennis England. "And we're hoping an event like this will get some new players into the game." 

Table tennis is growing in popularity in Britain. Figures from the Active Lives survey show that the number of players grew 11 percent between 2023 and 2024. 

But the statistics tell just one part of the story. 

As I walk around the hall, I spot Elkenah at one of the tables. His eyes lock on the ball as it zips towards him, he leans forward and in a flash, it's all over. A backhand winner with the flick of his wrist. The ball is nowhere to be seen. The smile is still there. 

"I can really express myself when I play," he tells me. "I used to be hyperactive. I couldn't sit in my chair at school. Now I can, because my coach has shown me how to stay composed. I can take action, but in a positive way, not by throwing pens in my classroom!"

The fun is supreme

The rallies go on for more than two hours. There are coaches, players, administrators all over the hall. But also, a table tennis celebrity. 

Joshua Bennett is a semi-professional player who appeared in the hit film, Marty Supreme. The Oscar-nominated movie centers around a table tennis whizz who hustles his way to stardom. But Bennett says the best part of the sport is not the glitz and glamor. 

"I really like the social side of it," says Bennett. "It brings people together. You can play while chatting to your friends. That's what hooked me, and I think that's what will hook a lot of people."

The World Team Championships start on April 28. Nearly 130 national teams will descend on London, doing battle in front of thousands of fans. 

But standing here, watching these children play, I can't help but think the world championships aren't the most important thing in this sport. The most important thing is that smile on Elkenah's face.