This 10-Minute, 766-Shot, Record-Setting Table Tennis Rally Ended Very Disappointingly
Fire whoever ruined this!
Professional table tennis players Li Jie and Hitomi Sato squared off at the 2017 Seamaster World Tour in Qatar this week, and their match set a world-record for the longest rally, lasting 10 minutes and 766 shots. According to SB Nation, both Jie and Sato “approach the game from a defensive standpoint. Each player prefers to counterattack, rather than push the tempo themselves.” Unfortunately, the rally ended in the least satisfying way possible as a second ball was accidentally dropped into the playing area, and thus halting the point.
As a result of this bizarre, time-consuming volley, officials implemented an “Expedite System” for the remainder of the match. This is a rule that forces players to win a point after 13 shots or the point is automatically awarded to the receiver.
