Table Tennis

Table Tennis is kind've like an indoor version of tennis in which two or four players hit a lightweight ball back and forth across a table using small bats.

The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net and can be played in singles and doubles events.

There are local clubs where people can play for fun, with opportunities to represent your state/territory and country at national and international competition.

Para table tennis is the third largest Paralympic sport in terms of numbers and is practiced in more than 100 countries.

Local Table Tennis opportunities

Para Table Tennis (Tennis ACT)

Table Tennis ACT runs a weekly Para Table Tennis session for players of all ability levels - from brand new to the game to State and National representatives. Sessions are modified to suit the individual and involve a warm up, footwork and table tennis technique according to ability. There's also 30 minutes of game time at the end of the session to bring out the competitive juices.

All activities are conducted by accredited coaches who hold a current Working with Vulnerable People card. If you are new, just look for Rosanna (Coordinator) when you arrive.

DAY: Saturday

TIME: 11:00am-12:30pm

LOCATION: Kingston Table Tennis Centre - next to Kingston Oval (cnr Canberra Ave and Dawes St)

WHO IT'S FOR: People with a disability

LEVEL: Recreational/Social

COST: Free for members. Non-members can come and try for free for one session.

For more details, go to the Table Tennis ACT website or pop Rosanna an email at info@tabletennisact.org.au.

National Table Tennis opportunities

Every year Table Tennis Australia include a Para Table Tennis event in their National Championships. Athletes can enter in individual and team events in two separate classifications - Athletes with a Physical Impairment and Athletes with an Intellectual Impairment.

Table Tennis ACT sends athletes every year, there's just a process to go through to get classified which is really well explained on the Disability Sports Australia website.

To find out more contact the team at Table Tennis Australia:

Sue Stevenson – National Program Manager (Para) at sue@tabletennis.org.au
Egon Loh – National Participation & Development Coordinator at egon@tabletennis.org.au

International Table Tennis opportunities

For people who really love playing and get pretty good at it, there are opportunities to represent Australia in international competitions.

Paralympic Games

The Paralympic Games are held every 4 years and have table tennis competition for people with physical impairment (in sitting, standing events) as well as athletes with physical impairment. Selection is usually done through the National Games. Click the image below to check out the pathway from starting out to representing Australia. Or visit the Paralympic Games website to find out more.

Virtus Global Games

The Virtus Global Games is the pinnacle event for athletes with an intellectual impairment to compete in elite sports. It is run every four years, the year before the Paralympics.

The Virtus Global Games are the world’s largest elite sports event for athletes with an intellectual impairment. Thousands of athletes from around the world gather every four years to compete for medals in table tennis and other sports including athletics, swimming, rowing, basketball, futsal, tennis, taekwondo, and cycling.

Visit the Virtus Games website to find out more. To speak to someone in Australia, contact Sport Inclusion Australia.