Xi Enting, always in control of his emotions (Photo: courtesy of Table Tennis Legends) by Ian Marshall, Editor Winner of the men’s singles title at the World Championships in 1973, China’s Xi Enting passed away on Sunday 27th October; he was 73 years old. A memorial service, attended by members of the Chinese national team, was held in Beijing on Saturday 2nd November. Born on Tuesday 3rd January 1946 in Tangshan, Hebei Province, he practised at the Baoding Amateur Sports School, entering the Chinese national team when 19 years old. Right handed, adopting the traditional pen-hold grip style of play, short pimpled rubber using one side of the racket only, physically Xi Enting was different to his contemporaries, he was tall and strong. Thus when
