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Table Tennis

Melissa Tapper

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Quick Facts

Disability
Brachial plexus nerve damage
How acquired
Birth
Date of Birth
Thu, 01/03/1990
Home
South Melbourne, VIC
Started Competing
2002
First Competed for Australia
2004
Heroes
Her father Charles
Career Highlights
Winning the 2011 Hungarian and Italian Opens
Greatest Moment
Winning the 2011 Hungarian and Italian Opens

Bio

Her rapid rise in international table tennis suggests that Melissa Tapper grew up with a table tennis racket in her hand but it wasn’t until she was 12 that the Melbourne local first picked up the bat.

Sport & Disciplines

Sport: Table Tennis
Disciplines: Singles
Classification: Class 10
Sport: Table Tennis
Disciplines: Teams
Classification: Class 10

Rebecca Julian

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Rebecca Julian

Quick Facts

Disability
Cerebral palsy
How acquired
Birth
Date of Birth
Tue, 02/12/1986
Home
Mooroolbark, Victoria
Occupation
Student
Started Competing
1999
First Competed for Australia
2005
Best World Rank
2
Games Experience
Beijing 2008
Heroes
Lance Armstrong
Career Highlights
3 gold medals at the 2007 TableTennis Australia AWD National Championships, gold at the 2007 US Open Paralympics Table Tennis Championships; 2 gold, 1 silver at 2008 Table Tennis Australia AWD National Championships
Greatest Moment
Representing Australia in Beijing and winning 2 games against the number 1 seed

Bio

Rebecca Julian is one of the most successful table tennis players in the country. Born with cerebral palsy, she was the first Australian to compete at the World Championships of the sport. She has since competed in a stream of competitions including the US Open and the Hong Kong Table Tennis Open in 2007.

Sport & Disciplines

Sport: Table Tennis
Disciplines: Singles, teams
Classification: Class 6

Table Tennis

Table Tennis

Sports Summary

Table tennis was included in the first Paralympic Games in 1960. Athletes from all disability groups (with the exception of athletes with blindness/visual impairment) participate and compete in table tennis in standing and sitting (wheelchair) classes.

Men and women compete individually and in doubles, as well as in team events. A match comprises five sets of 11 points each and the winner is the player or pair winning three of the five sets.

Events/Disciplines

  • Individual event
  • Team event

Classification

Athletes are classified into 11 classes in Paralympic table tennis.

There are 10 classes for athletes with physical disabilities, depending on the skills required for the sport and their ability (functional classification). Classification takes place after examining the range of movement of each athlete, his or her muscle strength, movement restrictions, balance in the wheelchair and the ability to handle the racket. Classes 1 to 5 are for athletes competing in wheelchairs, while classes 6 to 10 compete standing.

There is an additional class for athletes with an intellectual disability.
 
View a more detailed explanation of table tennis classification.

View the Australian classification masterlist for table tennis on the link below.

These lists include all table tennis athletes whose information is on file with the Australian Paralympic Committee. Information regarding athletes with an international classification has been obtained from the relevant International Federations. Athletes who have been nationally or internationally classified as per International or National Classification Policies and Procedures are automatically included in this database. Information will be updated regularly and compilation of accurate athlete classification data is still ongoing.

Australian Table Tennis Classification Masterlist

Rules & Equipment

Table

The table is 2.74 metres long, 1.525 metres wide and 76 centimetres high, while its surface must not be less than 20 centimetres thick. The competition surface is usually made from wood or synthetic materials.

Wheelchair friendly tables should have table legs at least 40 cm from the end line of the table for wheelchair players.

Net

The net is 15.25 centimetres high and extends along the width of the centre of the table, dividing it into two equal parts. The net is usually made of nylon and is coloured blue.


Ball

The ball has a 40mm diameter and weighs about 2.7 grams. It is made of celluloid or of similar plastic material. It is coloured white or mat orange. 

Rackets

Since the 1950s, rackets have been covered by a layer of sponge-like material, which sits between a racquet's rubber surface and the wood, creating a new type of rubber layer. Using this material, new techniques of hitting and spinning the ball were discovered and developed, making the game more dynamic.

 

More information can be found on the following sites.


 

Table Tennis Australia

International Table Tennis Federation

International Paralympic Committee

Table Tennis shadow squad

Melissa Tapper
Rebecca Julian
Sarah Lazzaro