Over 10 days of non-stop action, spectators can look forward to two daily sessions—morning matches at 10:00 am and evening sessions at 5:00 pm. With such an extensive schedule, Para table tennis stands out as one of the premier sports of the Games, rivaled only by athletics, swimming, and sitting volleyball in terms of scale and excitement.
Para table tennis has a rich history within the Paralympic movement, having been part of the programme since the inaugural Games in Rome in 1960. Initially, the competition was exclusively for wheelchair athletes, a tradition that continued until the 1976 Paralympics in Toronto when standing classes were introduced. Today, the sport is categorized into 11 classes, with the lower numbers representing athletes with more severe impairments.
In Paris, the singles events will feature all 11 classes for men, while the women’s singles will see 10 classes in action, with classes 1 and 2 combined. Additionally, the Paris 2024 Games will mark the return of doubles events to the Paralympic stage for the first time since 1976. These include two men’s doubles and two women’s doubles events for both wheelchair and standing athletes, as well as one mixed doubles event for each category. However, there will be no doubles events for athletes in class 11.
Matches will be played according to the rules set by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), with each match decided over the best of five games, each game played to 11 points. Notably, in the wheelchair classes, a “let” is called if the ball, after bouncing on the receiver’s side, returns in the direction of the net or leaves the receiver’s court by the sidelines. Additionally, in wheelchair doubles, players are not required to return the ball alternately.
Unlike previous Games where a group stage was followed by knockout rounds, this year’s events will follow a straightforward knockout format from start to finish. The schedule kicks off with the men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles events, while the men’s and women’s singles competitions will begin on Sunday, September 1st.
A total of 181 athletes will compete for glory in Paris, making this a must-watch event as we count down the final days to the Paralympic Games.
