Table tennis was included in the first Paralympic Games in Rome in 1960 and is now estimated to have more than 40 million competitive players and millions of recreational players.
Para table tennis is the third largest Paralympic Sport in terms of athlete numbers and is practiced in more than 100 countries.
Athletes with a physical impairment can compete in standing or sitting classes. Players with intellectual impairment can also compete.
Men and women can participate in individual, doubles or team events.
Matches consist of five sets of 11 points each and are played in a best-of-five format. A two-point winning margin is required to win each set. The server changes every two points.
Para table tennis rules follow in line with the rules set by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), with some slight modifications for wheelchair athletes.
Hypertonia | Impaired Muscle Power |
Ataxia | Leg Length Difference |
Athetosis | Impaired Passive Range of Movement |
Limb Deficiency | Intellectual Impairment |
Short Stature |
ITTF caters for two impairment groups – physical and intellectual.
Athletes are classified based on how much their impairment impacts their performance in the sport and their functional ability. Therefore, a sport class does not necessarily only comprise one impairment type but can include athletes with different impairments.
For illustrated explanation please click on the button below.
Athletes with a physical impairment: Classes 1-5 (wheelchair players), Classes 6-10 (ambulant players).
Athletes with an intellectual impairment: Class 11.
Class 1-5: Sitting classes
Class 1 |
· No sitting balance with severe reduction of function in the playing arm
· Very weak grip, weak wrist flexion, no active elbow extension because of no functional triceps · Neck and shoulder functions are normal · The Non-playing arm takes care of the trunk position (balance function) |
Class 2 |
· No sitting balance with reduction of function in the playing arm
· No normal strength of hand function · Elbow extension is sufficient and functional (strength 4-5) · The non-playing arm keeps the trunk in position |
Class 3 |
· Poor to sitting balance, although the upper part of the trunk may show activity
· Normal arms, although some slight motor losses can be found in the playing hand without significant effect on table tennis skills · The non-playing arm keeps the trunk in position |
Class 4 |
· Sitting balance not optimal because of poor anchorage (stabilization) of the pelvis
· The amount of balance depends on the amount of intact abdominal and back muscles · If the higher regions of the abdominal-back muscles are intact only weak rotation is possible · More functional muscles result in forward bending with a hollow back (lordosis) and with even more muscle function sideways bending is possible with a hollow curvature of the side |
Class 5 |
· Good to normal function of trunk muscles
· Sufficient activity of the pelvic-leg muscles giving pelvic anchorage and a bigger surface of the sitting support · Bending forward and sideway is done by a non-hollow back (normal curve) |
Class 6-10: Standing classes
Class 6 |
· Severe impairments of legs and arms |
Class 7 |
· Very severe impairments of legs (poor static and dynamic balance), or
· Severe impairments of playing arm, or · Moderate CP hemiplegia or diplegia playing arm included, or · Severe CP hemiplegia or diplegia with good playing arm, or · Combination of arms and legs impairments less severe than in class 6 |
Class 8 |
· Moderate impairments of the legs, or
· Moderate impairments of playing arm (considering that elbow and shoulder control is very important), or · Moderate hemiplegia or diplegia with good playing arm |
Class 9 |
· Mild impairments of the leg(s), or
· Mild impairment of playing arm, or · Severe impairments of non-playing arm, or · Mild CP with hemiparesis or monoplegia |
Class 10 |
· Minimal impairment |
Class 11: Athletes with intellectual impairment
Class 11 |
· Athletes with an intellectual impairment, which typically leads to the athletes having difficulties regarding pattern recognition, sequencing, and memory, or having a slower reaction time, which impact on sport performance in general.
· Athletes with an intellectual impairment have a restriction in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour that affects conceptual, social and practical adaptive skills required for everyday life. This impairment must be present before the age of 18. |
Please find the classification pathway here.
To be eligible to apply for a national classification, athletes must:
Athletes who do not meet the list of criteria above may still be evaluated by the classifiers by prior arrangement. However, he/she will only receive a provisional class in order to facilitate them to compete this year.
This list includes active athletes who have been classified at national and/or international level. Click here to access the Masterlist.
Table Tennis Ireland is the National Governing Body for para table tennis in Ireland. If you wish to get involved in para table tennis, please access the National Governing Body link below.
Governing Body | |
National | Table Tennis Ireland |
International | International Table Tennis federation (ITTF PTT) |
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