A story goes that in 1881 some British Officers carved a ball from a champagne cork and used cigar box covers to bat it back and forth over a pile of books across a table.

And so, apparently, the early form of the sport was conceived. Whether or not this is the true origin, the game was certainly a popular after-dinner amusement in the 1800s when it was played with similar improvised materials on dining room tables. It endured a variety of quirky names down the years - Gossima, Flim-Flam, Whiff-Whaff and the more commonly known Ping Pong.

The name Ping Pong was patented by games manufacturers Parker Bros and this resulted in the game being renamed Table Tennis to avoid issues with copyright when the International Table Tennis Foundation was formed in 1926.

The sport became hugely popular throughout the world - except in Russia, where it was banned for about twenty years until the 1950's because of the threat it was believed to pose to the eyes.

The sport has been a part of the Olympic Games since 1988 but makes its first appearance at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in the newly built Tennis Centre, Sportcity.

The Manchester 2002 Elite Disabled Athletes (EDA) will make their mark also, with the Open Wheelchair Singles, and their medals will count towards the overall medal tally for their country.

Competition is expected to be fierce and interest is expected to be high in what is likely to become one of the most popular additions to the Games.