by Pablo Perez, ITTF Head of Para Table Tennis
The IPC announced that men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles will replace men’s and women’s team events at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
The category for pairs in doubles competitions will be determined with a maximum number obtained by adding the class numbers of the two players. There will be four classes in each of the men’s and women’s doubles competitions, and two for mixed doubles.
Men’s Doubles
- Class MW4: Wheelchair (classes adding to maximum 4)
- Class MW8: Wheelchair (classes adding to maximum 8)
- Class MS14: Standing (classes adding to maximum 14)
- Class MS18: Standing (classes adding to maximum 18)
Women’s Doubles
- Class WW5: Wheelchair (classes adding to maximum 5)
- Class WW10: Wheelchair (classes adding to maximum 10)
- Class WS14: Standing (classes adding to maximum 14)
- Class WS20: Standing (classes adding to maximum 20)
Mixed Doubles
- Class XW7: Wheelchair (classes adding to maximum 7)
- Class XS17: Standing (classes adding to maximum 17)
Although this system is new for table tennis, it is commonly used for other sports.
Class 11, for players with intellectual impairment, is not included in the doubles events.
Introducing three doubles events in both standing and wheelchair categories provides a wide range of class combinations, resulting in even more exciting and unpredicted outcomes.
Moreover, the different class combinations are designed to protect lower classes, players with a greater disability and give middle classes more flexibility (class 3 and class 8).
Singles events were also confirmed.
Men’s Singles
- Class 1 (Wheelchair)
- Class 2 (Wheelchair)
- Class 3 (Wheelchair)
- Class 4 (Wheelchair)
- Class 5 (Wheelchair)
- Class 6 (Standing)
- Class 7 (Standing)
- Class 8 (Standing)
- Class 9 (Standing)
- Class 10 (Standing)
- Class 11 (Intellectual Impairment)
Women’s Singles
- Classes 1/2 (Wheelchair)
- Class 3 (Wheelchair)
- Class 4 (Wheelchair)
- Class 5 (Wheelchair)
- Class 6 (Standing)
- Class 7 (Standing)
- Class 8 (Standing)
- Class 9 (Standing)
- Class 10 (Standing)
- Class 11 (Intellectual Impairment)
The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will see 280 table tennis athletes compete in 31 medals events. They will open on 28 August 2024.