You come and play pingpong with me and I'll show you how much of an athlete I am not.
However I will also show you (when I get lucky) how they hit the ball and how blisteringly quick that game is. And that is with the larger ball that moves slower. Most asians are darn good at it, but you have to remember its a game of precision and speed not of power and endurance. Some shots can only be returned in some ways. Not only do you have to reach the ball you also need to get under, beside, over or whatever it. Sometimes it will only climb an inch off the table you need to get under that bugger else you wont return it.
Play someone who knows how to and you'd see not only do you need the speed, flexibility and knowledge you can in spite of all that be left in the dust. And no Forrest Gump wont cut it as an instruction manual, heck it wasnt even the best - most entertaining movie of 1992 IMHO.

Cool.
Srinath.