Table Tennis is one of the largest competitions on the Paralympic programme, with 29 medal events and nearly 300 athletes. A permanent part of the Paralympic programme since the first Games in 1960, the sport blends power, speed, skill and subtlety.
Classification
The Paralympic programme includes individual and team events for both standing players and wheelchair athletes. There are 11 classifications – Classes 1-5 cover wheelchair athletes, classes 6-10 cover standing athletes, and class 11 covers athletes with intellectual disabilities. Matches are played over the best of five games, with the first player to 11 points (by a margin of two clear points) winning each game.
Irish interest
Beijing Paralympian, Eimear Breathnach (TT1), and Rena McCarron Rooney (TT2) will both aim to secure qualification for London 2012.
