Table Tennis has been confirmed as one of the sports that will make up the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Governing Board announced the first 16 sports to be represented in Japan, with a decision on seven more sports to follow at a later date.

It means table tennis extends its record of having been included in every Paralympics since the first Games in Rome in 1960.

ITTF Chief Executive Judit Farago said: “The ITTF is extremely happy and proud to be among the 16 sports selected in the first round to be on the programme of the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. It proves the firm position of Table Tennis since the first Paralympic Games in 1960 in Rome.

“The decision of the IPC Governing Board means that we successfully met the criteria of worldwide participation, athlete classification, anti-doping programme and others.

“Our integrated para Table Tennis competition programme involves more than 3,500 classified players and 20 international tournaments yearly, which surely will further increase in the period leading up to the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.”

Table Tennis was one of the most popular sports at the London Paralympics, with 99 per cent day tickets sold for the event and immense media interest.

It also produced one of the moments of London 2012, with an amazing shot by David Wetherill being seen by more than six million people on YouTube alone (click here to view).

The other confirmed sports for the 2020 Paralympics are: athletics, archery, badminton, boccia, equestrian, goalball, powerlifting, rowing, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, triathlon, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis.

Paul Stimpson
October 8, 2014