Discover para table tennis
↓At the heart of the spirit of sport and inclusion, para table tennis stands out as an essential discipline. This sport gives all people with disabilities, whether physical or intellectual, the chance to excel and achieve real sporting performance. It makes it possible to push back limits and rise above the effects of disability, visible or not.
The rules of para table tennis
Although they are based on the fundamental rules of standard table tennis, some adaptations are made to ensure fairness and accessibility in para table tennis. For wheelchair play, for example, specific serving rules apply, such as a ban on backspin and the use of restricted service zones.
Other adjustments are also allowed depending on the player’s disability. Players with grip difficulties may, for example, use an orthosis to secure the racket to their hand and find the comfort they need to express their talent.
In certain categories, notably standing players in classes 6 to 8, the use of a cane or crutch may be permitted, illustrating para table tennis’s commitment to welcoming different forms of disability and offering fair opportunities to all participants.
Para table tennis matches
As in standard competitions, para table tennis offers both individual and team matches, played in sets of 11 points and best of 5 sets. Para table tennis matches are therefore very similar to those of classic competitions.
The classes of para table tennis
The different classes in para table tennis reflect the diversity of the athletes who play the sport. Each class represents a specific group of physical or intellectual impairments, offering fair opportunities to players with varied abilities.
Classes 1–5
These classes bring together wheelchair athletes. Class 1 covers players with the greatest need for assistance and the least mobility, and class 5 those with the fewest physical limitations.
Classes 6–10
These classes cover standing players, whose impairments may include limited mobility, amputations or other physical conditions. Class 6 includes players with the most severe impairments, while class 10 brings together those with the fewest physical constraints.
Class 11
Class 11 is for players with an intellectual rather than a physical impairment.
Each class therefore has its own challenges and opportunities, and players are classified according to their functional ability, ensuring fair and stimulating competition for all participants. This structure also promotes inclusion by allowing players of similar ability to compete against each other, creating a competitive and respectful environment where talent can flourish whatever the level of disability.
