As the April ITTF Para Table Tennis Rankings hit the shelves, 109 athletes have clinched their tickets to the much-anticipated Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. The top-ranked players not already qualified have now secured their spot and are on the Road to Paris*.
Previously, 91 players had earned their berths during the 2023 ITTF PTT Regional Championships. The upcoming opportunities for qualification include the doubles rankings set to be unveiled on April 22nd, followed by the World Qualification Event scheduled in Pattaya, Thailand, from May 23rd to 25th.
Jan Riapos and Jose Manuel Ruiz Reyes: Welcome to Club 8
Slovakia’s Jan Riapos and Spain’s Jose Manuel Ruiz Reyes are poised to etch their names into the annals of sporting history as they gear up to participate in their eighth Paralympic Games. From Atlanta to Sydney, Athens, Beijing, London, Rio, and Tokyo, these stalwarts of Para table tennis aim to further embellish their illustrious careers at the impending Paris Games. Riapos eyes adding to his tally of four golds, one silver and one bronze in Class 2, while Ruiz Reyes seeks to clinch his first gold in Class 10 after securing silver thrice and bronze twice.
Quest for an Fifth Straight Gold
Liu Jing (CHN) has secured her qualification today, in the pursuit of an extraordinary fifth consecutive singles gold medal in Paris. This remarkable feat has never been achieved by any female player in the history of Para table tennis.
Powerhouses China, Korea, and France Lead the Charge
China, Korea Republic, and the host nation France emerge as the frontrunners in Para table tennis, with 20, 16, and 14 players respectively already securing their spots in Paris. With such formidable contingents, anticipation mounts as to whether this dominance will translate into podiums and medals.
Paris Welcomes First Kiwi Representative
In a historic moment, Matthew Ryan Britz of New Zealand becomes the trailblazer for his nation in Para table tennis at the Paralympic Games. The 20-year-old, crowned the 2023 Oceanian Champion, has clinched his place in Class 7, the most fiercely contested category featuring seven players within a tight range of 10 ranking points.
The Para table tennis events at Paris 2024 promises to captivate audiences from August 29th to September 8th, unfolding at the South Paris Arena 4. Fans will witness the exciting action unfold daily throughout the Games. Tickets are available at Paris 2024’s official ticketing platform here.
* The participation of athletes in the Paralympic Games is contingent upon their respective National Paralympic Committees’ selection for representation at Paris 2024, as per their exclusive authority.
