A table tennis competition concluding on Aug 28 in Baotou, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, attracted nationwide attention, Baotou Daily reported on Aug 30.

Some 433 table tennis players from 17 teams came from all across the country to compete in the championship for the men's singles, women's singles and team competition during the two-day event.

Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is very popular in China and became a national craze following the founding of People's Republic of China in 1949. The craze contributed to male Chinese players' winning the World Championship 60% of the time since 1959, and all but two of the women's since 1971.

Table tennis had a relatively late start in Baotou, but has witnessed fast development over the past few years. The number of table tennis fans is on the rise, with more than 600 residents registering for table tennis competitions in 2016, twice the number of 2013.

Participants compete for the championship at a table tennis competition which started on Aug 26 in Baotou, Inner Mongolia autonomous region. [Photo/Baotou Daily]