Attacker: The type of player who attempts to kill as many balls as possible, overpowering his or her opponent.

   Backhand: A stroke with the hand turned backward.

   Backspin: Reverse spin imparted by striking the ball with a downward movement of the racket.

   Blade: A racket excluding its rubber surface, made of wood.

   Block: A return shot where the racket is held in front of the ball with little movement at the point of contact, used to defend against hard shots or when a player is out of position.

   Centre line: A white line parallel with the side line and dividing the courts into half-courts.

   Chop: A downward stroke producing back-spin.

   Counterdrive: An attacking stroke made against an attacking stroke.

   Defender: The type of player who pushes, chops and blocks the ball and tries to force the opponent into making a mistake.

   Doubles: A game between opposing pairs of players.

   Drop shot: A short return that falls just over the opponent's side of the net.

   End line: A white line along each end of the playing surface.

   Expedite system: A system used to restrict the duration of a game, normally introduced after play has lasted for 10 minutes. Players serve alternately and the receiver scores a point if he or she returns 13 successive strokes.

   Forehand: A stroke with the hand facing forward.

   Game: The part of a match completed when one player has scored at least 11 points and at least 2 more than the opponent.

   Good service: The term used to describe a valid serve.

   Half-court: One side of a court, divided from the other half-court by the centre line.

   Let: A rally whose result is not scored.

   Loop: A long upward motion that just grazes the ball and places heavy topspin on it, usually to set up a kill.

   Match: The best of any odd number of games.

   Men's doubles: A competition between pairs of men players.

   Mixed doubles: A competition between pairs consisting of a man and a woman.

   Obstruction: Interception of the ball over or moving towards the playing surface before it has bounced on the correct court.

   Penholder: A popular grip in Asia where the racket is held as if holding a pen, with the racket tip pointing downward, aiding the forehand while weakening the backhand.

   Playing surface: The upper surface of the table.

   Point: A rally whose result is scored.

   Push: A gentle stroke intended only to keep the ball in play.

   Rally: The period during which the ball is in play.

   Receiver: The player due to return the serve.

   Red card: A card shown by the umpire usually to dismiss an illegal adviser from the playing area or, in conjunction with a yellow card, to indicate the award of a penalty point.

   Server: The player due to strike the ball first in a rally.

   Service: The means of starting a rally, in which a player throws the ball upwards at least 16cm and strikes as it is falling, so that it touches first the server's court and then the receiver's court.

   Shakehands: The most popular grip in the world, resembling "shaking hands" with the racket while giving a player the best balance of forehand and backhand shots.

   Side line: A white line along each side of the playing surface.

   Sidespin: The spin imparted by striking the ball with a sideways movement of the racket.

   Singles: A game played by opposing individuals, not teams.

   Smash: A hard, flat attacking stroke.

   Stroke counter: The official appointed to count return strokes when the expedite system is in effect.

   Third-ball attack: A strategy that attempts to win points on the third ball over the net, with the server attempting to loop or kill the return of serve.

   Topspin: Forward spin imparted by striking the ball with an upward movement of the racket.

   Women's doubles: A competition between pairs of women players.

   Yellow card: A card shown by the umpire to signify a warning for a violation.

Credit: IOC

For further info., please visit http://www.olympic.org/uk/sports/programme/disciplines_uk.asp?DiscCode=TT.