WHat is Para Table Tennis?

Para table tennis is for people with a physical and/or intellectual disability whose disability affects their playing level and/or table tennis experience. Especially for people with a disability, exercise and sports are very important.

There is a difference in class classification at the para ranking tournaments and the Dutch National Championship (NK) compared to international events. The para ranking tournaments and the NK are classified into the top class and classes 1 to 6. This does not take into account the degree of disability. This has the advantage that you play against players of a similar level, but the disadvantage is that it is often an unfair fight in terms of disability.

Nationally, I currently play in the top class.

In the international circuit, athletes receive an international classification. The classification is determined by the disability and especially by the influence of the disability on the playing level. Players are divided into 11 classes. Classes 1 to 5 are for wheelchair users, with wheelchair users in class 1 being the most severely disabled. Classes 6 to 10 are for standing players, with standing players in class 6 being the most severely disabled. Class 11 is for athletes with an intellectual disability.

For standing players and athletes with an intellectual disability, the same rules apply as in (normal) table tennis. For wheelchair users, you are only not allowed to serve over the sideline.

I am internationally classified in class 7, standing players.

Of course, my training partners Kelly van Zon, 4x Paralympic champion class 7, and Jean-Paul Montanus, bronze medalist Paris 2024 class 7, are my great role models. The Netherlands is doing well in para table tennis.