Published on 01/09/2024 21:23
Video length: 2 min
Are all shots allowed in para table tennis?
The French table tennis players have already won three medals, but the French team is aiming for ten. In its Paralympic version, this sport has some subtleties.
Nothing has changed since the Lebrun brothers’ matches: the Paris-Sud Arena is always full. As in the Olympic matches, to win, the para athletes must score 3 sets of 11 points. Standing, the gestures are the same, but for wheelchair players, there are adjustments. In singles, the service is done at the back of the table and not on the sides. In doubles, everyone plays when they want. “Players can touch the ball however they want,” explains a specialist.
The move called the candle is the ultimate para table tennis shot. When the ball goes high enough, it comes back like a boomerang with the effect. Opposite, the opponent has almost no chance to retaliate.
Unfair, even unsportsmanlike for some, the technique is nevertheless popular with athletes. Strategy and speed are the beauty of this sport where attacks can exceed 100 km/h. Para table tennis is one of the oldest Paralympic sports. It was present from the first edition in Rome (Italy) in 1960.
