my gut still says Putin is more dangerous than ping-pong .Belarus is his test .I don't think either one is a military threat to the U.S. We are in a class by ourselves when it comes to military power and the ability to project that power.
I think Putin wants influence in the world and a buffer between Russia and NATO in Europe. He is also a master at sowing discord within Europe and to a lesser degree in NATO. He has a talent for seeing the weak links. He even tested the U.S. in Syria but 2 or 3 hundred Russians were missing from morning formation the next day.
Ping-Pong is more of a economic threat. They too want more global influence. But, we could always stop buying their stuff and educating their elites. Geography works against them. Few friends and bases outside of the country.
And last, but not surely not least, we have the 1st Cavalry, and they don't. :)
Cheers