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The Best Ping Pong Tables in 2021

The world is fast evolving and with the help of technology nothing ever remains the same again for long. This applies to the equipment used for playing table tennis. 

For instance, the official material used for table tennis balls was initially Celluloid. With advancements in science and technology, these changed to ABS in 2014. Likewise, table tennis regulation authorities just claimed that tables can be made from any kind of material so long it generates the required amount of bounce.

The advancement doesn’t stop. So, let’s talk about the table tennis tables currently considered as the best in the year 2021. You could have a deeper look at them at http://www.pongplace.com/reviews/ping-pong-tables.

There are lots of options out there and it might get confusing. This article will itemize some of the best tables in the market and address their core features, their pros and cons. 

Let’s take a deep dive!

  • MD Sports Official Size Table Tennis Table: When we said we’ll be talking about the best ping pong tables in 2021, we meant tables that can actually serve the average table tennis player. The MD sports table tennis table is simply the standard table tennis table

It comes with all the features even a professional player could ask for. On top of that, it comes with two free paddles and two free balls on purchase. That’s way more than what most table tennis table deals are offering.

The table top has about 15mm uniform thickness across the entire length of the board which allows for a standard satisfactory bounce. 

Pros

  • It comes with wheels so can be moved easily
  • Comes with two paddles and two balls
  • Hard build material

Cons

  • Difficult to assemble
  • Cornilleau 510M: The Cornilleau 510m stands out as one of the best outdoor table tennis tables available out there. For a table that comes with a 10-year warranty, you shouldn’t be surprised it is made from super quality materials such as a galvanized steel frame and a 7mm laminate top.

To make it very suitable for outdoor use, it comes with a proprietary anti-glare MATTOP finish which helps to reduce sun glares when playing outdoors.

Pros

  • Anti-glare MATTOP finish
  • 10-year warranty
  • Sturdy build

Cons

  • Quite heavy
  • Joola Inside Table Tennis Table: The Joola brand produces tables that can fit in any kind of player. These tables have been backed multiple times by the ITTF for use in most international competitions. 

If you are that guy who needs a reliable table that you can always set up in a jiffy to play with the boys or perhaps practise with a robot, this table is the real deal.

Pros

  • It’s foldable and so easy to store
  • Can be assembled in no time
  • Average size for the average home

Cons

  • Has no provisions for storing balls and paddles
  • Martin Killpatrick Ping Pong Table Conversion Top: This table is right about the best conversion top available in the market. It gives you the perfect opportunity to convert any platform into your table tennis table.

Martin Killpatrick Ping pong table conversion top fits properly on pool tables or any other table whose length ranges from about 8” to 9”. The table is pretty thick for a conversion top and is made up of paddings to protect the table underneath from any form of scratches. 

It’s easy to set up once you have the platform ready. Although it is quite heavy and requires about 2 individuals to carry it, It does give ample storage space.

Pros

  • Paddings to protect scratches
  • Splits in half for easier storage
  • 100% money-back guarantee

Cons

  • Quite pricey
  • Butterfly Centrefold 25 Rollaway Table Tennis Table: At major championships such as the olympics and the world championships, the fast-paced, high intensity back and forth smashing and spinning of the ball experienced sometimes beg the question, “what are those tables made of?”. The truth is that it doesn’t matter. 

Those tables can hold their own and they create a wonderful experience. That is what the Butterfly centrefold 25 Rollaway table tennis table provides as of this moment. Adjustable and lockable wheels are also some of the features which this table comes with to guarantee the best experience.

Pros

  • Adjustable and lockable wheels
  • 5-year warranty
  • Durability

Cons

  • It doesn’t come with paddles and balls

Wrapping up

As you might already know, the game can be categorised into various classes depending on where it is played (I.e Indoor and Outdoor), what purposes it  is being played for (I.e. professional, recreational or training), etc. 

Whichever the case may be, table tennis tables are very crucial to playing the table tennis game. Although we have generally listed some of the best table tennis tables you could possibly get in 2021, some are best suited for  some purposes than others. We have picked out the best tables for some purposes down below:

  • Best Outdoor Table: Cornilleau 510M
  • Best Indoor table: Butterfly Centrefold 25 Rollaway Table Tennis Table
  • Best conversion table: Martin Killpatrick Ping Pong Table Conversion Top

Before you make a choice, you need to factor in your purposes. These picks are one of the best options in the market. They are sure to give you the best experience.

 

Kylian Mbappé to be named on bench for Champions League clash

The Frenchman is nursing a calf injury which kept him out of action at the weekend.

Paris Saint-Germain have been dealt a massive blow going into tonight’s Champions League clash against Manchester City as star man Kylian Mbappé will reportedly be named on the bench due to fitness concerns.

Mbappé has been nursing a calf injury which kept him out of action against Lens at the weekend.

PSG are already against it having lost 2-1 in the first leg of the semi-final. Their task in reaching the final has now become increasingly more difficult with the potential of one of their star players.

Of course, their squad is still littered with talent including Neymar, Angel Di Maria, Marco Verratti and Marquinhos, but the pace and threat in the final third of Mbappé will be hard to replace.

Speaking about the injury yesterday, PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino said: “We need to assess Kylian. Today he is going to start an individual training session and see if he can be with the team.

“There is still one day and we will see and decide if he is going to be available. We will take the decision tomorrow.”

As mentioned previously, PSG have a massive task on their hands if they want to qualify for the final. They need at least 2 goals to have any chance of winning the tie.

Manchester City don’t concede a succession of goals, and when they do, they often outscore their opponents.

Saying that, PSG’s attacking threat in the first leg was evident and there were a number of times when the Manchester City backline was compromised. They were particularly impressive in the first half as they opened the scoring, created further chances and went in ahead at half-time. City’s quality eventually showed and they looked a different team in the second half, but PSG’s first half performance should give them confidence going into the game.

The fixture kicks-off at 8pm tonight and will be played at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Premier League Darts second phase 2021 League Table, Video Highlights and Results

Premier League Darts 2021 second phase – Dates, League Table, Video Highlights, and Results for the 2021 Premier League darts tour.

Table-topper Nathan Aspinall will face Peter Wright in a meeting of former runners-up on Night 10 of the Unibet Premier League, with fixtures confirmed for the second phase of the competition.

The opening nine league phase nights in Milton Keynes saw ten of the world’s top stars play each other once across two blocks of league phase nights.

Following the elimination of Rob Cross and Glen Durrant, the remaining eight players will return to the Marshall Arena to play each other once again in the league phase.

The battle for one of the sport’s most coveted titles and £250,000 top prize continues in the second half of the season with Nights 10-12 staged across Wednesday May 5-Friday May 7, with Nights 13-16 held from Monday May 24-Thursday May 27.

The Play-Offs, where the top four players from the league table contest the semi-finals and final, will then take place on Friday May 28.

The 2021 season will resume on Wednesday May 5 with a meeting between last year’s finalist Aspinall and 2017 runner-up Wright, who is among the chasing pack for the top four positions.

The Premier League’s returning night will also see five-time champion Michael van Gerwen in action against high-flying debutant Dimitri Van den Bergh, who is level with Aspinall at the top of the table.

Fellow-debutants Jose de Sousa and Jonny Clayton will face former champions Gary Anderson and James Wade respectively on Night 10.

Current top two Aspinall and Van den Bergh will face off on Night 11 on Thursday May 6, which also features a repeat of the 2020 Grand Slam of Darts final between De Sousa and Wade, while the competition’s two most decorated players – Van Gerwen and Anderson – will meet on Night 14 on Tuesday May 25.

The Play-Off race will reach its climax on Thursday May 27 with Night 16 as Van Gerwen and Wright meet in a repeat of the 2017 final.

Play on each night will commence at 1900 BST. Matches from Nights 10-16 are the best of 14 legs.

The Unibet Premier League is broadcast through Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland, RTL7 in the Netherlands, DAZN in various worldwide territories including Germany & America, as well as through the PDC’s global broadcast partners and on PDCTV for Rest of the World Subscribers outside of the UK, Ireland & Netherlands.

2021 Unibet Premier League
Nights 10-16 Fixtures
Night 10 – Wednesday May 5
Jonny Clayton v James Wade
Jose de Sousa v Gary Anderson
Dimitri Van den Bergh v Michael van Gerwen
Peter Wright v Nathan Aspinall

Night 11 – Thursday May 6
Nathan Aspinall v Dimitri Van den Bergh
James Wade v Jose de Sousa
Gary Anderson v Peter Wright
Michael van Gerwen v Jonny Clayton

Night 12 – Friday May 7
Peter Wright v Jose de Sousa
Michael van Gerwen v James Wade
Jonny Clayton v Nathan Aspinall
Dimitri Van den Bergh v Gary Anderson

Night 13 – Monday May 24
Jonny Clayton v Gary Anderson
Jose de Sousa v Dimitri Van den Bergh
Nathan Aspinall v Michael van Gerwen
James Wade v Peter Wright

Night 14 – Tuesday May 25
James Wade v Nathan Aspinall
Jonny Clayton v Jose de Sousa
Gary Anderson v Michael van Gerwen
Peter Wright v Dimitri Van den Bergh

Night 15 – Wednesday May 26
Jonny Clayton v Peter Wright
James Wade v Dimitri Van den Bergh
Gary Anderson v Nathan Aspinall
Jose de Sousa v Michael van Gerwen

Night 16 – Thursday May 27
Gary Anderson v James Wade
Nathan Aspinall v Jose de Sousa
Peter Wright v Michael van Gerwen
Dimitri Van den Bergh v Jonny Clayton

Play-Offs – Friday May 28
Semi-Finals
Final

Roy Keane gives opinion on Manchester United fan protests

Their game against Liverpool was postponed today after supporters made their way onto the pitch in protest against the Glazers.

Manchester United fans have been quietly protesting against the Glazer’s ownership of the club since plans to join the now defunct European Super League were first announced, but today the protests reached a new level. Over 100 Manchester United fans managed to break their way into Old Trafford and stormed onto the pitch in a demonstration against the owners of the club.

Manchester United were scheduled to play Liverpool today in one of the biggest games in world football, but that was called off due to the protests as fans spent hours on the pitch in demonstration.

“It has reached a tipping point for the Manchester United fans. They have had enough. United have got some of the best fans in the world. We have seen today that they are thinking enough is enough with the ownership of the club,” said Roy Keane while on punditry for Sky Sports.

“Today is a huge game, there’s huge interest from all over the world and there was an opportunity for United fans to make a huge statement and that’s why they did it today because it was Liverpool, the last few weeks have just pushed United fans over the edge.

“This is just the beginning. There’s more to come, I guarantee you.”

Given the backlash over the formation of the European Super League, the pending resignation of Ed Woodward and now the protests that took place today, it’s hard to think that the Glazers will remain at Manchester United for much longer.

There were rumours about the Glazer’s contemplating the sale of the club after Ed Woodward’s resignation was announced a couple of weeks ago. Perhaps we could see that come to fruition sooner rather than later.

Irish midfielder Mark Sykes signs new deal with Oxford United

The Belfast man signed with the club in 2019. 

Irish midfielder Mark Sykes has signed a new deal with Oxford United keeping him at the club until 2022. The Belfast man had an option in his contract to extend his contract for a further year which manager Karl Robinson duly activated. Spanish midfielder Alex Gorrin also had his contract extended.

“It didn’t take too long to make that decision because they are good players, they both love playing for the club and we think there is more to come from both of them,” said manager Karl Robinson on the deals.

“We are building for the future here and both of them fit the bill really well; good players with great attitudes and lot of potential, so we are really happy to have them here for at least one more year and hopefully longer.”

“I’m settled here, love living in the area and the club has given me the opportunity to really show what I can do,” stated Mark Sykes.

“I’ll always be grateful that they took a chance on bringing me over here and hopefully I can repay that faith by playing a part in the last couple of games and getting us where we all want to be.”

Sykes signed for Oxford United back in 2019 from NIFL Premiership side Glenavon. He came through the club’s youth system and made 117 league appearances over the span of 6 years before departing.

Since joining Oxford, Sykes has become a first-team regular, making 30 League One appearances this season.

He also played for Northern Ireland from u18 to u21 level and was included in a couple of senior squads, however he never played in a game for the country.

Because of this, he was still eligible for the Republic of Ireland and in a controversial move in August last year, he switched allegiance to the Republic.

“The Republic of Ireland are the team I have always dreamed of playing for and I have to try my best to achieve that,” explained Sykes regarding his decision.

The 23-year-old has yet to appear in a Republic of Ireland squad, but that could change very soon if he keeps progressing as he is.

National Showjumping Grand Prix

The National Showjumping Grand Prix moves west this weekend as Gain Alltech, with the support of SJI, sponsoring the series.

Taking place in Galway Equestrian, it promises to be an exciting weekend of jumping with a full schedule of classes.

On Sunday, the Gain Alltech Grand Prix, which is sponsored by Galway EC, will take centre stage with a prize fund of €4,000.

On Saturday, the second round of the ISH Studbook Series qualifiers should prove very competitive. The action in this series will continue early on Sunday morning with the finals.

Winner of the last week’s round in the Meadows EC, Kildare’s Mikey Pender will be chasing points. Pender has declared three to jump in this round. The current leaders on the board, John Floody and Mikey Pender, will be watching this week’s proceedings closely.

There is a good mixture of riders on the start list with local riders looking to claim this win. Among the western region riders participating are Olive Clarke, Sven Hadley, Daren Hopkins, James Joyce and Gabriel Slattery.

Current National Grand Prix Champion Derek McConnell will with Dothraki Warlord and Izzy. Runner-up in the TRM Showjumpers Club Spring Tour, Robyn Moran, will be competing with Coolminga Inspector Royal.

Speaking ahead of the weekend Tomás O’Brien of Galway Equestrian said:

“It’s wonderful to be back jumping again, albeit it without spectators. We have a great line-up in the classes. Tom Holden will design fitting tracks for the high standard of riders. We would ask all competitors to stick to the Covid Guidelines that we have in place. The schedule over the course of the show ensures that all guidelines can be followed in a safe manner and in a timely fashion.”

Leading jockey and trainer at the Punchestown Festival 2021

We have the latest updated standings for the leading jockey and trainer at the Punchestown festival, will it be Rachael Blackmore or Paul Townsend?

Leading Jockey

4wins

Paul Townsend

3 wins

Patrick Mullins

2wins

Simon Torrens

1 win

Jody McGarvey

Cathal Landers

Jonathan Moore

Derek O’Connor

Sam Twiston Davies

Robbie Power

Daragh O’Keeffe

Miss J Townsend

P Byrnes

BJ Walsh

Danny Mullins

Conor McNamara

PJ O’Hanlon

Leading Trainer

12 wins

Willie Mullins

2 win

Philip Rothwell

Jessica Harrington

1 win

Mouse Morris

Paul Nicholls

Peter Fahey

Danny Mullins

0 wins

Denis Forster

Henry De Bromhead

European Badminton Championships – Nhat Nguyen and Sam/Chloe into last 16

Olympic hopeful Nhat Nguyen and former European medallists Sam and Chloe Magee continue their good form.

Day Two

Mixed Doubles

Sam and Chloe Magee progress to the last 16 with a hard-fought win over Tiers Van Der Lecq and Debora Jille of the Netherlands 21-14 19021 21-14

Paul Reynolds and Rachael Darragh lost out to their higher-ranked opponents Eloi Adam and Margot Lambert of France 17-21 16-21

Men’s singles

Nhat Nguyen progresses to the last 16 of the Men’s singles with a win over Zvonimir Durkinjak of Croatia 23-21 21-14

Women’s Singles 

Rachael Darragh played another good singles match but was unable to get the win against Ksenia Polikarpova of Israel losing 14-21 18-21

“The team did a great job on day two of the championships. Sam and Chloe used their experience to get through a tough last 32 match. Nhat Nguyen also stepped up to the mark against a very tricky opponent in Zvonimir Durkinjak. Rachael Darragh performed well in both her mixed and singles and despite not getting a win today she will have learned a lot from the matches she had. Two last 16 places put Ireland in a good position on Day three of the championships. We hope we can go at least one step further after the matches tomorrow”

Badminton Ireland HP Director Daniel Magee

Results

Mixed Doubles

RD 32Sam Magee and Chloe Magee (IRL) Bt Tiers Van Der Lecq and Debora Jille (NED) 21-14 19-21 21-14

RD 32 Paul Reynolds and Rachael Darragh (IRL) Lost to Eloi Adam and Margot Lambert (FRA) 17-21 16-21

Men’s singles

RD 32 Nhat Nguyen (IRL) bt  Zvonimir Durkinjak (HR) 23-21 21-14

Women’s Singles

RD 32 Rachael Darragh lost to Ksenia Polikarpova (IL) 14-21 18-21

rm reaching the last 16 off the event

Video Highlights – Galopin Des Champs wins Punchestown Novice Hurdle

Video Highlights – Galopin Des Champs has won the Grade One Irish Daily Mirror Punchestown Novice Hurdle.

Willie Mullins extended his dominance at the 2021 Punchestown Festival as Galopin Des Champs completed a Cheltenham/Punchestown double when landing the Grade 1 Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle.

Ireland’s champion trainer maintained his clean sweep of the Grade 1 races thus far this week as the five-year-old, who carries the colours of Audrey Turley, cruised through the field under Paul Townend to return home in isolation, recording a 12-length success over Gentlemansgame.

Townend himself was extending his advantage over Rachael Blackmore to six winners in the race to be crowned champion jockey.

Of his latest Grade 1 winner, Mullins said afterwards: “He looked very smart today stepping up to three miles. He looked fantastic. Paul just gave him a squeeze turning in and he took off and it was race over barring a fall.

Options will remain open for Galopin Des Champs in terms of next season but connections will be entitled to dream big after this display.

“He’s very slick over his hurdles. I said to Paul, ‘What did you think?’ and he said he could be a Stayers’ Hurdle candidate. I like to go chasing with them quickly. We’ll see,” Mullins added.

Townend commented: “That was straightforward. He settled well. I was in front a lot earlier than I anticipated. I won’t say too soon, because we won but it was a lot earlier than I anticipated. One good jump got me there, without setting sail. I was there and able to hang onto a little bit.

“He jumped super. He’d jump a fence if they want him to as well. There’s loads of options for him.”

Manchester United and Chelsea monitoring Irish forward Andrew Moran

The 17-year-old joined Brighton & Hove Albion from Bray Wanderers last summer.

Brighton & Hove Albion will have a task on their hands if they want to keep hold of in-form Irish forward Andrew Moran amid reported interest Manchester United and Chelsea, according to TeamTalk.

Moran only joined Brighton last summer but has already made quite an impact at the seaside club. The 17-year-old has registered a highly impressive 22 goal contributions in 22 u18 Premier League games this season. He’s also made appearances in the Premier League 2 and FA Youth Cup.

Before joining Brighton, Moran came through the Bray Wanderers youth system and managed to appear in 2 First Division games for the club, scoring 1 goal in the process.

Leigh Kavanagh – who played with Moran at Bray Wanderers – also joined the Brighton underage setup at the same time as his compatriot.

In other Irish transfer news, current St Mirren midfielder Jamie McGrath has attracted interest from Aberdeen and a number of EFL clubs (including Peterborough United) following his impressive performances this season.

Celtic midfielder Scott Brown – who is set to join Aberdeen in the summer – reportedly recommended McGrath to manager Stephen Glass, according to the Daily Record.

Like Moran, McGrath has been highly effective in the final third this season, contributing to 20 goals in 42 games in all competitions from midfield.

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