Table Tennis Documentary ‘Ping Pong’ Impresses Critics

The new table tennis documentary Ping Pong has impressed a number of film critics.

Directed by Hugh Hartford, the feature follows the trials and tribulations surrounding the 15th-annual over-80 World Veterans Championship held in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia over two years ago. However, the film also shows how a group of elderly athletes prepare themselves for the tournament.

The Globe and Mail writer James Adams gave the table tennis documentary a solid three stars out of a possible four. Judging from his review, Ping Pong delivers the proverbial goods.

“[The movie] may not be the greatest table-tennis film ever made,” Adam wrote. “Regardless, with its sure and steady yet light hand on issues of mortality and life’s passages, it wins gold. Who knew that knocking a small hollow ball back and forth across a net could be a sort of fount of youthfulness?”

Rob Salem, film critic for The Star, also gave the film three stars out of four.

” ‘Ping Pong’ is a charming and even inspirational doc that follows eight medal-winning veterans of the sport on their way to and through the 15th annual World over-80s Table Tennis Championship,” Salem explained.

He added, “You are grateful for the opportunity to have walked for a while in their orthopedic sneakers, and to experience their undiminished zest for life.”

According to the San Francisco Gate, chiropractic neurologist and certified chiropractic sports physician Dr. Leslie Prins explained that table tennis is a fantastic way for folks to stay in shape.

“The speed of table tennis is a great cardiovascular workout and improves reflexes and core tone, and is highly stimulating to brain activity,” Prins explained. “It also provides significant joint mobility of both upper and lower extremities and increases energy over time.”

Although the table tennis documentary Ping Pong is currently available on VOD overseas, the film has yet to find its way into the hands of a Stateside distributor.