Tennikoit

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Tennikoit, also called ring tennis or tenniquoits, is a sport played on a tennis-style court with a circular rubber ring. Players throw the ring over a net and try to catch it and return it to the opponent’s court. It can be played indoors or outdoors.

Disciplines include singles (one-on-one), doubles (two-on-two), and mixed doubles (one man and one woman per team). The sport is played in about 14 countries and is especially popular in Germany, South Africa, Brazil, Venezuela, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

Origins are unclear, but the game likely comes from deck tennis, played on ships in the early 20th century. Tennikoit has been played in South Africa since 1947 and is run by the SA Ringtennis Union, affiliated to the World Tennikoit Federation.

How it’s played: A serve sends the ring over the net into the opponent’s court. The opponent tries to catch and return it. Each side gets five serves in a row, then the other side serves for five. Players or teams aim to reach 21 points, must lead by two to win. A match is best of three sets; each set goes to 21 points, with a 30-minute limit per set. If a rally lasts too long (about nine or more), the point goes to the opponent.

Faults include the ring hitting the net posts, going out of bounds, passing through the net, or the ring wobbling too much.

Courts can be indoors or outdoors on surfaces like red sand, clay, or cement. Court size is 12.2 by 5.5 meters, with a center line dividing it into two zones of about 5.2 by 2.75 meters. The net height is 1.8 meters.