# Paralympic table tennis
Paralympic table tennis is the discipline of table tennis contested at the [Summer Paralympic Games](https://www.edgepedia.org/summer-paralympic-games), in which athletes compete across 11 sport classes for players with physical or intellectual impairment in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events. The [International Table Tennis Federation](https://www.edgepedia.org/international-table-tennis-federation) (ITTF), through its Para table tennis arm, has governed the sport, including all classification rules, since it accepted the transfer of governance from the [International Paralympic Committee](https://www.edgepedia.org/international-paralympic-committee) (IPC) on 1 July 2007.[6](https://www.ittf.com/para-table-tennis-classification/) At Paris 2024 the sport fielded 280 players across 31 medal events at South Paris Arena 4 from 29 August to 7 September 2024, making it the third largest sport at those Games.[7](https://www.ittf.com/tournament/2604/paris-2024-paralympic-games/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Classes | 11: wheelchair classes 1–5, standing classes 6–10, intellectual impairment class 11[4](https://www.paralympic.org/sites/default/files/2019-11/Vista%202019_162_Wu.pdf) |
| Governing body | ITTF, since 1 July 2007[6](https://www.ittf.com/para-table-tennis-classification/) |
| Paris 2024 program | 31 medal events: 15 men's, 14 women's, 2 mixed; 280 players[1](https://cdn.nocnsf.nl/media/bq4gzl3a/2024_03_27-paris-qr_v191_0-para-tafeltennis-apr-2024.pdf) • [7](https://www.ittf.com/tournament/2604/paris-2024-paralympic-games/) |
| Doubles events | MD4/MD8/MD14/MD18, WD5/WD10/WD14/WD20, XD7/XD17; number caps the pair's combined classes[3](https://web.archive.org/web/20240319034434/https:/www.paris2024.org/en/sport/para-table-tennis/) • [8](https://www.olympics.com/en/news/jeux-paralympiques-paris-2024-programme-favoris-tout-savoir-epreuves-para-tennis-de-table) |
| LA28 change | One new women's event added for gender parity; 45% of quota places to women, up from 42%[9](https://www.paralympic.org/news/la28-competition-schedule) |
## History
From the Games' beginning in 1960 until the 1976 Games, the sport was open only to athletes in wheelchairs.[3](https://web.archive.org/web/20240319034434/https:/www.paris2024.org/en/sport/para-table-tennis/)
## Classification: Classes 1–11
What the classes measure. A sport class is a category defined by the ITTF in which athletes are grouped by functional ability resulting from their impairment.[2](https://ipttc.org/classification/ITTF-Classification-Code-final-March-2010.pdf) Para table tennis uses 11 classes: five wheelchair classes (1–5) and five standing classes (6–10) for physical impairment, plus one class (11) for intellectual impairment.[4](https://www.paralympic.org/sites/default/files/2019-11/Vista%202019_162_Wu.pdf) Within the wheelchair classes, the lower the number, the greater the impact of the disability on play; in classes 1 and 2 the impairment also affects the upper limbs.[8](https://www.olympics.com/en/news/jeux-paralympiques-paris-2024-programme-favoris-tout-savoir-epreuves-para-tennis-de-table) Classes 6–10 are for standing players with physical impairment, and class 11 for players with intellectual disability.[8](https://www.olympics.com/en/news/jeux-paralympiques-paris-2024-programme-favoris-tout-savoir-epreuves-para-tennis-de-table) Ineligibility for competition is itself treated as a sport class.[2](https://ipttc.org/classification/ITTF-Classification-Code-final-March-2010.pdf)
**Who classifies, and how.** The ITTF is responsible for all classification rules following the 2007 governance transfer.[6](https://www.ittf.com/para-table-tennis-classification/) Athlete evaluation takes place during international competitions and combines a bench test, a table tennis functional test, and observation during competition.[4](https://www.paralympic.org/sites/default/files/2019-11/Vista%202019_162_Wu.pdf) The ITTF Classification Code specifies a physical and technical evaluation plus initial observation, and athletes should allow at least one hour for the assessment.[2](https://ipttc.org/classification/ITTF-Classification-Code-final-March-2010.pdf) [Documentation](https://www.edgepedia.org/documentation) differs by class: players with physical impairment (classes 1–10) must provide a Medical Diagnostics Form completed, dated, and signed by a certified health professional, while class 11 athletes require VIRTUS eligibility.[6](https://www.ittf.com/para-table-tennis-classification/) To compete at the [Paralympic Games](https://www.edgepedia.org/paralympic-games), an athlete must hold a Confirmed sport class status, or a Fixed Review Date status with a review date after 31 December 2024 in the Paris cycle.[1](https://cdn.nocnsf.nl/media/bq4gzl3a/2024_03_27-paris-qr_v191_0-para-tafeltennis-apr-2024.pdf) Every player's class and class status can be checked on the ITTF's global players master list.[6](https://www.ittf.com/para-table-tennis-classification/)
**Where classification is contested.** Minimum impairment criteria in class 10 are an active research and fairness question. A study of 35 class-10 players with physical impairment at the world championships found that 4 players may not fit the current minimum impairment criteria and 4 more may be borderline.[4](https://www.paralympic.org/sites/default/files/2019-11/Vista%202019_162_Wu.pdf) The same research found that players with amputation, dysmelia, or les autres impairments, specifically brachial plexus injury affecting the non-playing arm, may dominate class 10, raising a fair-play concern.[4](https://www.paralympic.org/sites/default/files/2019-11/Vista%202019_162_Wu.pdf) In response, revised cut-offs were applied from January 2021, raising the non-playing-arm loss threshold from 35 to 40 points and setting a 10-point loss threshold for the playing arm; the functional classification system itself has been in use since 2002.[4](https://www.paralympic.org/sites/default/files/2019-11/Vista%202019_162_Wu.pdf)
## Events and adapted rules
Paris 2024 contested 31 medal events, split 15 for men, 14 for women, and 2 mixed/open, with 166 male and 114 female quota slots across classes 1–11.[1](https://cdn.nocnsf.nl/media/bq4gzl3a/2024_03_27-paris-qr_v191_0-para-tafeltennis-apr-2024.pdf) The doubles program comprised men's doubles MD4, MD8, MD14, and MD18, women's doubles WD5, WD10, WD14, and WD20, and mixed doubles XD7 and XD17, alongside singles classes.[3](https://web.archive.org/web/20240319034434/https:/www.paris2024.org/en/sport/para-table-tennis/) Tokyo 2020 had also run 31 events, but with 17 male and 14 female events, and no mixed events, using team events that combined classes such as 1-2, 4-5, 6-7, and 9-10.[5](https://www.ipttc.org/communication/2018/2020%20Tokyo_Qualification%20guide.pdf)
**Doubles composition rules.** In doubles events, the number in the event name indicates the maximum permitted sum of the two players' class numbers, which must not be exceeded; for example, MD4 can be formed from two class 1 players, two class 2 players, or one class 1 and one class 2 player.[8](https://www.olympics.com/en/news/jeux-paralympiques-paris-2024-programme-favoris-tout-savoir-epreuves-para-tennis-de-table)
**Adapted play.** Play follows the ITTF laws of table tennis with modifications.[11](https://media.paralympic.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Para-table-tennis-Information-Sheet-New-Branding.pdf) [Wheelchair](https://www.edgepedia.org/wheelchair) players may use backspin serves, and wheelchair doubles players need not alternate strokes.[8](https://www.olympics.com/en/news/jeux-paralympiques-paris-2024-programme-favoris-tout-savoir-epreuves-para-tennis-de-table) • [12](https://db.ittf.com/sites/default/files/public/2021-06/2021ITTFHandbook.pdf) A let is called if the ball returns in the direction of the net after bouncing on the receiver's court or leaves the receiver's court by either sideline.[3](https://web.archive.org/web/20240319034434/https:/www.paris2024.org/en/sport/para-table-tennis/) A match is played over the best of five sets, each set won by the first player to reach 11 points with a two-point margin.[3](https://web.archive.org/web/20240319034434/https:/www.paris2024.org/en/sport/para-table-tennis/)
**Equipment.** Players who cannot grip a racket firmly can strap the bat to their hand or use an elastic bandage, and players with gripping difficulties may use an orthosis to fix the racket to the hand.[3](https://web.archive.org/web/20240319034434/https:/www.paris2024.org/en/sport/para-table-tennis/) • [8](https://www.olympics.com/en/news/jeux-paralympiques-paris-2024-programme-favoris-tout-savoir-epreuves-para-tennis-de-table) Standing players in classes 6–8 may be permitted canes or crutches.[8](https://www.olympics.com/en/news/jeux-paralympiques-paris-2024-programme-favoris-tout-savoir-epreuves-para-tennis-de-table) Athletes must present for classification in sport dress and shoes with their full equipment, including the wheelchair to be used during play and all devices, strapping, belts, orthotics, and prosthetics.[2](https://ipttc.org/classification/ITTF-Classification-Code-final-March-2010.pdf)
## Qualification pathway
To qualify for Paris 2024, athletes had to meet the ITTF Tournament Credit System requirements for the period 1 January 2023 to 31 March 2024 and be ranked on the ITTF Para Table Tennis Ranking List of 1 April 2024.[1](https://cdn.nocnsf.nl/media/bq4gzl3a/2024_03_27-paris-qr_v191_0-para-tafeltennis-apr-2024.pdf) Slot allocation then followed a priority order: VIRTUS Global Games (class 11 only), Regional Championships, Individual World Ranking, Doubles World Ranking, World Qualification Tournament, and Bipartite Invitations.[1](https://cdn.nocnsf.nl/media/bq4gzl3a/2024_03_27-paris-qr_v191_0-para-tafeltennis-apr-2024.pdf) The World Qualification Tournament awards one slot to the top ranked, not otherwise qualified athlete in each medal event.[1](https://cdn.nocnsf.nl/media/bq4gzl3a/2024_03_27-paris-qr_v191_0-para-tafeltennis-apr-2024.pdf)
## By the numbers
London 2012 drew 276 athletes, 174 men, and 102 women, in 29 events; Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 each staged 31 events within that range.[5](https://www.ipttc.org/communication/2018/2020%20Tokyo_Qualification%20guide.pdf) Paris 2024's 280 players made the sport the third largest at the Games.[7](https://www.ittf.com/tournament/2604/paris-2024-paralympic-games/)
The Paris 2024 standings also show a broadening tail: France finished 20th with 1 silver and 5 bronze, Türkiye 21st with 1 silver and 3 bronze, Czechia took 1 silver, and Brazil 4 bronze.[10](https://www.ipc-services.org/hira/paralympics/medal-standings/code/PG2024/discipline/TT)
## How it compares with Olympic table tennis
Paralympic and Olympic table tennis share the same ITTF laws, with slight modifications regarding serve rules for wheelchair athletes.[11](https://media.paralympic.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Para-table-tennis-Information-Sheet-New-Branding.pdf) The structural difference is classification: where Olympic table tennis runs a single open draw, the Paralympic program divides players into 11 classes by functional ability.[4](https://www.paralympic.org/sites/default/files/2019-11/Vista%202019_162_Wu.pdf) The sources do not provide a detailed structural comparison with the ITTF Para World Championships or continental championships beyond the shared rules base.
## References
1. [Paris 2024 Para Table Tennis Qualification Regulations (version April 2024)](https://cdn.nocnsf.nl/media/bq4gzl3a/2024_03_27-paris-qr_v191_0-para-tafeltennis-apr-2024.pdf)
2. [ITTF Classification Code (March 2010)](https://ipttc.org/classification/ITTF-Classification-Code-final-March-2010.pdf)
3. [Para table tennis – Paris 2024 (archived official site)](https://web.archive.org/web/20240319034434/https:/www.paris2024.org/en/sport/para-table-tennis/)
4. [Examination of Minimal Impairment Criteria for standing players in class 10 in Para Table Tennis (Wu et al., Vista 2019)](https://www.paralympic.org/sites/default/files/2019-11/Vista%202019_162_Wu.pdf)
5. [Tokyo 2020 Para Table Tennis Qualification Guide](https://www.ipttc.org/communication/2018/2020%20Tokyo_Qualification%20guide.pdf)
6. [ITTF Para Table Tennis Classification](https://www.ittf.com/para-table-tennis-classification/)
7. [Paris 2024 Paralympic Games – ITTF tournament page](https://www.ittf.com/tournament/2604/paris-2024-paralympic-games/)
8. [Paris 2024 Paralympics: Everything you need to know about the Para table tennis (Olympics.com)](https://www.olympics.com/en/news/jeux-paralympiques-paris-2024-programme-favoris-tout-savoir-epreuves-para-tennis-de-table)
9. [Competition Schedule revealed for LA28 Paralympic Games (IPC)](https://www.paralympic.org/news/la28-competition-schedule)
10. [HIRA – Table Tennis at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games (medal standings)](https://www.ipc-services.org/hira/paralympics/medal-standings/code/PG2024/discipline/TT)
11. [Para-Table Tennis Information Sheet (Parathlon Australia)](https://media.paralympic.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Para-table-tennis-Information-Sheet-New-Branding.pdf)
12. [db.ittf.com](https://db.ittf.com/sites/default/files/public/2021-06/2021ITTFHandbook.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Racket and precision ball sports › Table tennis › Table tennis competitions › Paralympic table tennis*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Sep 30, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license