Mind over matter? Or nature over nurture? What is it that separates Olympic legends like Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt and U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps from the millions of enthusiastic amateurs around the world? Matthew Syed, author of "Bounce" and a former Olympic table tennis player, believes that an individual's ability is secondary to the level ... (more)Mark Johnson has traded in one journey for another and his second career is also very successful.Han Xiao, 25, won three national titles in doubles and was named U.S. player of the year when he was 15.The launch of Sunderland Council Olympic progamme at Sunderland Winter Gardens. Sunderland Council Leader Paul Watson with Councillor Mel Speding and Councillor John Kelly with some of the local athletes who attended the event.That's the right attitude. Along with a bag full of confidence. And a lot of history on your side.After a poor showing at the Vancouver Games two years ago, the Russian Olympic team will be under immense pressure to perform better and boost the medal count in front of the home crowd in Sochi.Indian table tennis team's Polish coach Kucharski Leszek feels that Indian players have a decent chance of getting selected and playing well at the 2012 Olympics but feels that medals could perhaps be expected in the next edition of the mega event.THE Nigeria Table Tennis Federation is shopping for N15 million to participate in the World Table Tennis Championship in Dortmund, Germany, from March 25 to April 1. The NTTF has registered 10 players for the tournament, which should also serve as an avenue to test the players against some of the world best before the July Olympics.Members of Leeds' Chinese community have reason for a double celebration as the Year of the Dragon dawns on 23 January.MID Wales table tennis ace Naomi Owen kept alive her Olympic dream with a crucial victory in the Hungarian Open.Only six years ago John Rwothomach followed his parents over to the UK to seek refuge from persecution in war-torn Uganda.The 17-year-old, who has won a world junior title in the 200m breaststroke, said: "I plan to win gold." WORLD No 1 Lee Chong-Wei has set his sights on his country's first ever Olympic gold after winning an eighth Malaysia Open.The little orange pingpong balls are taking quite a beating, one after another being smashed off the racket of Tong Tong Gong as he practices with one of his three coaches.Ripley held a six-point lead on Point Pleasant after day one of the Winner's Choice Wrestling Tournament in Fairmont Friday.Cary, NC, United States - The make-up of the U.S. Table Tennis team will be determined in February, when the nation's top athletes converge in Cary, N.C., for the Olympic Trials, starting Feb.Two Iranian table tennis players Noshad Alamian and Neda Shahsavari qualified for the 2012 Olympic Games on Wednesday.The Committee to set up a Pre-Games Training Camp in West Devon is launching an appeal for overseas athletes to come and train here.A year ago, Jo had never picked up a table tennis bat. Today he is a junior champion, with hopes of representing England.Attempts to use the Games as a driver to inspire more people to play sport and exercise more have come in for widespread criticism, as have recent cuts to the national school sport budget.New Delhi, Jan 8: India is looking for an extra table tennis berth at the 2012 London Olympics, assuming one each in the men's and women's singles qualify as they have been doing since the sport made its debut in Seoul in 1988.