TABLE-TENNIS players in Redbridge say their sport has seen a huge resurgence in popularity in the wake of the Olympic games and the Mayor of London’s high-profile “Whiff-Whaff” speech.

Staff at Woodford Wells Club say there has been a sharp increase in interest at their club in the last few weeks, and hope it spells a bright future for the game.

Last month at an Olympic games handover presentation in Beijing, Mayor of London Boris Johnson provoked amusement in the national media when he said table tennis, or “Whiff-Whaff” as he called it, would be “coming home” when London hosts the games in 2012.

Mr Johnson said: “There I think you have the essential difference between us (the British) and the rest of the world.

“The French looked at a dining table and saw an opportunity to have dinner. We looked at a dining table and saw an opportunity to play Whiff-Whaff.

“And so I say to the Chinese, and I say to the world, ping pong is coming home.”

Despite sniggers from some corners, Clive Wiseman, joint secretary of the club, said he was overjoyed by the exposure Mr Johnson’s speech had brought.

“We’re delighted with anything that can give us publicity and encouragement,” he said.

“We used to get three or four calls a month, now we’re getting three or four a week after the Olympics and this speech.

"The sport doesn’t get much publicity on television, so we appreciate everything we can get.

“Hopefully it will help us get some younger members - If you don’t get the youngsters playing it’s not a sport that is going to last.”

Despite their delight at the Mayor’s speech, Mr Wiseman and other club members admit they are baffled about Boris’s ping pong lexicon.

“We don’t tend to call it ping pong as it sounds rather childish, but I’ve never, ever heard it being referred to as Whiff-Whaff,” he said.

“Here it’s such a popular game. It doesn’t take up much room, you can play it indoors, it’s pretty inexpensive, and of course it is a lot of fun.”

The sport, which is traditionally a winter game, sees its new season get underway in a few short weeks.

So if you’ve never picked up a Whiff-Whaff whacker before, now is the ideal time...