A Chinese company based in Guangdong Province has become the supplier of all balls used in table tennis competitions at the ongoing Paris Olympics.
Double Fish Sports Group provided more than 35,000 balls, which have used the latest Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene plastic material, offering more precise flight and stable trajectory.
The company has upgraded its production line and implemented 15 rigorous automatic testing processes.
"This device measures the balance of a table tennis ball. Since the ball is round, we need to check its uniformity. The best-performing balls roll along the central line [in the device]. We categorize balls into three-star, two-star, and one-star levels based on relevant standards. For the Paris Olympics, we provide the highest standard balls," said Du Yinhuan, a senior engineer of the Double Fish Sports Group.
Weight is another critical criterion, as it directly affects athletes' performance.
"Each ball used in the Paris Olympics is exceptionally good, as the weight accuracy must be within 0.01 grams, a very high requirement," Du said.
Key indicators for table tennis balls include roundness, balance, hardness, weight, and elasticity. Double Fish Sports Group has reduced the elasticity tolerance for these Olympic balls to 4mm, weight tolerance to 0.015g, and roundness tolerance to 0.04mm.
Du revealed that his company's export orders have surged this year, with related products like table tennis paddles and tables also being popular. They are currently expanding production to meet market demand, he said.
In recent years, sports goods manufactured in Guangdong have been evolving towards high-end and intelligent products, gaining favor from many customers. The Paris Olympics has further boosted the exports of sports goods and equipment from Guangdong.
Data shows that in the first half of this year, enterprises in the Guangzhou Customs area exported sports goods and equipment worth 2.28 billion yuan (about 310 million U.S. dollars).
China-made table tennis balls shine at Paris Games
