The sport of table tennis is one of the most popular activities here in China. A big part of that has to do with the country's success on the world stage -- at the past two Olympic Games, China clinched all four gold medals available.

But in order to grow the game globally, China needs to help promote the sport in places like the US, where baseball, basketball and football are king.

This is the home to baseball's Chicago WhiteSox, and on this day it played host to some of the most prominent players in the table tennis world. Half a dozen of the best Chinese paddlers along with South Korean Ryu Seung-Min and Swede Jorgen Persson arrived in the Windy City to help promote the sport.

It's not the first time an event like this has been held, but it doesn't happen on a regular basis, which means the sport fails to garner much momentum in the States. World champion Wang Linqin hopes in the future more people can be introduced to his favourite sport.

Wang Liqin, Team China Member, said, "First, it brings people from China and the US closer. I hope more people from all over the world can understand table tennis because of our efforts, so our sport can be recognized internationally. That is part of the job of being a world champion to promote the sport."

Olympic gold medallist Ma Lin expects table tennis will become more common in more developed countries.

Ma Lin, Team China Member, said, "Table tennis is the most popular sport in China, but not in many western countries. That's why we hope people from these countries, especially the US, will participate more."

Wang Hao, the runner-up in the men's singles event at the London Olympics, says the development in the US is a good idea.

Wang Hao, Team China Member, said, "I heard table tennis is becoming more popular in the US. Maybe one day they can have one table in each household in the future. I think such an idea would be good for developing the sport."

During the table tennis festival the match between world champion Ding Ning and young American player Xing Yanhua was one of the most watched. Matches like that will help in growing the popularity of the sport.

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