Paris 2024: Introduction to Para table tennis

Para table tennis has been part of every Paralympics since the first edition held in Rome in 1960 09 Jun 2024

A male Para table tennis player holds a racquet with his mouth and lifts the ball with his right foot.

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will take place between 28 August and 8 September 2024.

ⒸThomas Lovelock/OIS/IOC

By IPC

Welcome to Week 16 of Paris 2024 Paralympic Sport Weeks. This week, everything you need to know about Para table tennis.

There will be as many as 280 Para table tennis players competing in 31 medal events at Paris 2024.

Two male Para athletes in action during a Para table tennis match at Tokyo 2020 — More than 270 athletes competed in 31 medal events at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. @Bob Martin/OIS

Brief history of Para table tennis

Table tennis has been part of every Paralympics since the first edition held in Rome in 1960. It was one of the eight sports, alongside Para athletics, Para swimming, Para archery, dartchery, snooker, wheelchair fencing and wheelchair basketball.

The sport made its Paralympic debut almost 30 years before it was introduced at the Olympic Games. About 130 athletes from 17 countries competed in 11 medal events in Rome. Federico Zarilli won four medals to help hosts Italy finish atop the medals table.

A black-and-white photo shows Para table tennis athletes are competing in front of a packed crowd — Table tennis was one of the eight sports contested at the Rome 1960 Paralympic Games. @INAIL

More than 270 athletes competed in 31 medal events at Tokyo 2020. Fourty-three athletes won two medals in the Japanese capital.

China tops the all-time medals standings with 75 golds, 30 silver and 20 bronze medals. At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, China won 26 medals.

China’s Zhang Xiaoling has won the most gold medals at a Paralympic Games. Winning her first gold in 1988, Zhang continued on to win an additional six gold medals, with her last in her home Games in Beijing 2008.

What to watch in Para table tennis

The goal in Para table tennis is to use a bat to hit the ball over the net onto the opponent’s side of the table without return. For the point to be won, the ball that bounce twice should be on the other side of the table.

The sport is characterised by fast and explosive rallies. Athletes need to react quick as smashes can exceed 100 kilometres per hour.

They can use several forehand and backhand shots in the attack or defense, which require technique.

Two male Para table tennis athletes in action. — In Para table tennis, athletes play either in wheelchair or standing, depending on their class. @Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

In Para table tennis, matches are the best of five games. The first athlete or pair to score 11 points by at least two clear points wins a game.

The play begins with a serve. The ball must bounce on the server’s side of the net and over to the opponent’s side.

In Para table tennis, athletes are grouped into 11 sport classes. They play either in wheelchair or standing, depending on what class they are in. They compete in men’s or women’s singles, doubles or mixed doubles competitions.

They can also adapt their playing styles to their impairment or use equipment, such as canes.

Memorable Paralympic moments

At Beijing 2008, Poland’s Natalia Partyka made history by becoming the first ever Para table tennis player to compete at both the Olympics and the Paralympics. She earned two medals at the Paralympics – a gold in the women’s singles 10 and a silver in the women’s teams 6-10.

Woman returns ball in table tennis — Partyka has competed at six Paralympic Games, including Tokyo 2020. @Getty Images

At Rio 2016, Ibrahim Hamadtou made headlines around the world for his unique playing style. Hamadtou, who lost his arms in a train accident, holds the table tennis racquet in his mouth and serves with his foot.

China won 16 of the 31 medal events at Tokyo 2020. In the women’s class 5 tournament, Zhang Bian won a thrilling all-Chinese battle against up-and-coming debutant Pan Jiamin. Zhang prevailed in five sets. She won two gold medals in the Japanese capital, to improve her total to seven gold medals.

A female Para table tennis player competes using a cane — Zhang Bian won the women's singles class 5 and the women's teams classes 4-5 at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. @Naomi Baker/Getty Images

Paris 2024 programme

There will be 31 medal events in Para table tennis at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. The sport’s biggest stars will return to the Games, which will take place between 28 August and 8 September.

Men’s events

Singles – Class 1

Singles – Class 2

Singles – Class 3

Singles – Class 4

Singles – Class 5

Singles – Class 6

Singles – Class 7

Singles – Class 8

Singles – Class 9

Singles – Class 10

Singles – Class 11

Doubles – MD4

Doubles – MD8

Doubles – MD14

Doubles MD18

Women’s events

Singles – Classes 1-2

Singles – Class 3

Singles – Class 4

Singles – Class 5

Singles – Class 6

Singles – Class 7

Singles – Class 8

Singles – Class 9

Singles – Class 10

Singles – Class 11

Doubles – WD5

Doubles – WD10

Doubles – WD14

Doubles – WD20

Mixed/Open events

Doubles – XD7

Doubles - XD17

Paris 2024 venue

Para table tennis will be staged at the South Paris Arena alongside goalball and boccia. South Paris Arena is part of the Paris Expo, an exhibition and convention centre that was built in 1923 to host the Paris Trade Fair. It is located near other Games venues, including the Roland-Garros Stadium, Eiffel Tower Stadium and Champ de Mars Arena.