How to qualify in Para table tennis
How para table tennis players qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics
Para table tennis at LA28 has 32 medal events and 280 places (140 men, 140 women):
- Singles, classes 1 to 11, for men and for women (22 events). Classes 1 to 5 play in wheelchairs, 6 to 10 standing, and 11 is for players with an intellectual impairment.
- Doubles, by combined class: men's MD4, MD8, MD14, MD18; women's WD5, WD10, WD14, WD20; mixed XD7 and XD17 (10 events).
Places belong to the player or pair, not the country. They are given in this order:
- 2027 Para Continental Championships (Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania): each singles champion.
- World doubles ranking: the top pairs from one country.
- World singles ranking of 5 April 2028: the next best in each class.
- World Qualification Tournament (May 2028): each singles winner.
- Invitations.
So for an Indian player the first chance is the 2027 Asian Para Championships: win your class, and you are in.
A country can have at most three players per gender per class and enter two per singles event.
Places by route
| Route | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Continental champions in each singles class (women's class 1 not included) | 55 | 50 |
| 2. Doubles ranking (pairs from one country) | 14 | 14 |
| 3. Singles ranking of 5 April 2028 | 49 | 54 |
| 4. World Qualification Tournament: one per class | 11 | 11 |
| 5. Invitations | 11 | 11 |
| Total | 140 | 140 |
Places in each class
| Class | Men singles | Men doubles | Women singles | Women doubles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | 8 (classes 1 to 5) | 6 | 8 (classes 1 to 5) |
| 2 | 10 | 11 | ||
| 3 | 13 | 13 | ||
| 4 | 11 | 13 | ||
| 5 | 10 | 10 | ||
| 6 | 13 | 6 (classes 6 to 10) | 13 | 6 (classes 6 to 10) |
| 7 | 14 | 13 | ||
| 8 | 14 | 13 | ||
| 9 | 11 | 11 | ||
| 10 | 9 | 11 | ||
| 11 | 12 | - | 12 | - |
| Total | 126 | 14 | 126 | 14 |
1. Continental championships
The winner of each singles event at each of the five 2027 continental championships qualifies (women's class 1 is not included here). If classes are combined at a championships, the winner qualifies only in their own class; the others are covered by the ranking. If a championships or event is not held, or a place cannot be given, it goes to the singles ranking.
2. Doubles ranking
| Event | Pairs qualifying |
|---|---|
| MD4, MD8, MD14 | top two pairs each |
| MD18 | top pair |
| WD5, WD10, WD14 | top two pairs each |
| WD20 | top pair |
Only pairs of two players from the same country qualify. That is seven pairs (14 players) per gender. Mixed doubles pairs are made up from players already qualified.
3. Singles ranking
The best-ranked players not yet qualified on the ITTF World Para Ranking of 5 April 2028 (ranking week 14) fill each class, at most two per country through this route:
| Class | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 3 | 6 | 6 |
| 4 | 4 | 6 |
| 5 | 3 | 3 |
| 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 7 | 7 | 6 |
| 8 | 7 | 6 |
| 9 | 4 | 4 |
| 10 | 2 | 4 |
| 11 | 5 | 5 |
If a women's class 1 player wins a combined event at a continental championships, her place comes off the four.
4. World Qualification Tournament
Held in week 21 of 2028 (venue to be set). The winner not yet qualified in each singles event qualifies. If an event is not held, or classes are combined, the spare places become invitations.
5. Invitations
Eleven for each gender: five across classes 1 to 5, five across classes 6 to 10 and one for class 11; at most two per class and gender unless extra places have come back. Two invitations, of either gender, are kept for the United States. Applications by 17 May 2028.
Eligibility and entries
- A place on the ITTF World Para Ranking Singles of 5 April 2028.
- International classification.
- At least two ITTF World Para Circuit events (Future, Challenger or Elite) between 1 January 2027 and 5 April 2028, or one for players from Africa and Oceania.
- Two players per singles event and two pairs per doubles event per country. Doubles qualifiers can play singles and singles qualifiers can play doubles, within these limits.
Dates
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1 January 2027 | Circuit period opens |
| 2027 | Continental championships (Europe: Geneva, 10 to 15 August 2027; others to be set) |
| 5 April 2028 | Ranking and circuit period closes |
| 7 April 2028 | Invitation applications open |
| 10 April 2028 | Places from routes 1 to 3 announced |
| 20 April 2028 | Countries confirm |
| 23 April 2028 | Unused places passed on |
| 5 May 2028 | Accreditation Long List due |
| 17 May 2028 | Invitation applications close |
| Week 21 of 2028 | World Qualification Tournament |
| 29 May, 5 and 7 June 2028 | Tournament places announced, confirmed and passed on |
| 23 June 2028 | Invitations and doubles pairs announced |
| 2 July 2028 | Countries confirm; declare use |
| 24 July 2028 | Sport entries close |
An unused continental or tournament place goes to the runner-up there, then to the ranking; an unused ranking place to the next player; an unused doubles place to the next pair until 23 April 2028, then to invitations. After 2 July 2028 places go back to the IPC.
Points to check
The text of route 1 counts 55 men and 50 women, which matches 11 classes × 5 continents for men and 10 × 5 for women. The ITTF ranking regulations behind route 3 could not be downloaded (403) and are not saved.