Table Tennis
Table Tennis
Basics
Table tennis is one of the sports of the first Paralympic Games in Rome 1960 for wheelchair athletes. However, the standing class competition was only introduced at the Toronto games in 1976
The aim of table tennis is to hit the ball into the opponent’s half of the table without them being able to return it successfully. A match consists of five sets each being played to 11 points
For all classes in table tennis (wheelchair and standing) there are female and male singles, doubles and team matches.
Who can participate?
Until 1980 when athletes with cerebral palsy first took part in the sport at the Moscow Paralympic Games, table tennis was played by people with spinal injuries. Nowadays there are 11 disability classes:
TT1 – TT5: Athletes in wheelchairs
TT6 – TT10: Physically disabled standing athletes
T11: Learning disabilities
Where in the world?
Table tennis is the 4th largest Paralympic sport behind athletics, swimming and powerlifting. In Beijing 2008 there were 276 athletes competing for 29 gold medals. China dominated the Games winning six gold, six silver and one bronze medal. Great Britain took a strong team of seven men and four women.
What’s near me?
Visit http://tablefinder.etta.tv/ to find the nearest table tennis clubs near you.
Further information
English Table Tennis Association
