Table Tennis Ireland governs and develops Para table tennis across the country, supporting athletes at every level while building an inclusive community where participation and high performance thrive together.
TTI provides information on Para pathways, governance and player profiles – including Irish Para player achievements and squad updates.
Para table tennis is competitive sport for athletes with physical or intellectual impairments. It welcomes players of all abilities into national and international competition, from club level through elite pathways.
The sport 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.
There are different classifications of Para. Athletes can compete with a physical impairment can compete in standing or sitting classes. Players with intellectual impairment or autism can also compete in Para Table Tennis.
How Para table tennis classification works:
A functional classification system is used to minimise the impact of impairment on sporting performance, providing structure for fair and equitable competition. Classification determines who is eligible to compete in Para Table Tennis and assigns athletes to classes based on the level of activity limitation.
Physical impairment – athletes with reduced muscle power, limited range of motion, limb deficiency, hypertonia, athetosis, ataxia, leg length difference or short stature.
Intellectual impairment – players with restriction in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour, present before the age of 18.
Classes 1-5 – Wheelchair players (players with a physical impairment competing from a wheelchair)
Classes 6-10 – Ambulatory/standing players (ambulant players with physical impairment)
Class 11 – Players with intellectual impairment or autism (intellectual impairment group)
Find the specifics of each class here: Para Table Tennis – Paralympics
Classification isn’t always required at the very beginning of involvement, but athletes who wish to compete in structured competition should seek official classification. Contact Table Tennis Ireland for guidance on the right stage and how to apply for classification through the appropriate process.
Table legs positioned to allow wheelchair clearance (minimum 40cm from table end). Wheelchairs are considered part of the body during play with specific positioning rules. Athletes may use adaptive grips or racket straps where needed, still complying with ITTF gear rules.
This Programme is the point of entry for players joining the national Para Squad for the first time. It is very important to have little to no barriers to initial entry into the Development Squad. Players, who are referred for consideration of joining the Development Squad, will attend at least one national training camp and will be assessed by the Head Coach for the purposes of joining the Squad for continued training for international events or remaining with their club for further improvement before being re-assessed. The Development Squad will travel to international events which are deemed appropriate by the Head Coach.
The goal of the Performance – Pathway Programme is to provide players with a programme that is challenging, but fair, while aiming to increase the numbers of players in the High-Performance Squad with aspirations to qualify for the Paralympic Games.
The Pathway programme will focus on providing our players with realistic performance and training goals and with this in mind will concentrate on making the players more active regarding competitive match play. Players will travel not only to ITTF events but British GP events as well as other European events deemed appropriate by the Head Coach.
Players in the High Performance Squad are players who have reached the standard of results and achievements at international events to merit funding from Paralympics Ireland with a view to achieving qualification for a future Paralympic Games.
Contact your local club first. Then email [email protected] with your club name so we can link you with your area Para Branch Representative. The Para committee and national coaches can guide you on competition, classification and development.
