The final ball of the 2024 Paralympic Games Para table tennis event was struck last night at a packed South Paris Arena 4 leaving us with a mix of excitement and nostalgia for an unforgettable Parisian summer. Over ten days of thrilling competition Para table tennis was showcased like never before. Beyond the intense action on the court the venue was alive with vibrant crowds continuing the electric energy of the Olympic Games.  The French spectators made a last lasting impression in the ultimate session where the 21-year-old Lucas DIDIER from Le Chesnay took the stage in a bid to win France’s first Para table tennis gold of Paris 2024. The event was truly extraordinary not just through their numbers but by the unique atmosphere they created for the athletes. Even as the holiday season ended and the school year resumed fans flocked to the arena filling the seats and generating a charged atmosphere filled with excitement and anticipation. The community spirit was palpable with passionate cheers resonating throughout as spectators embraced the nuances and unique stories of Para table tennis. ITTF President Petra SÖRLING expressed her gratitude stating: “I want to thank the Paris 2024 Organising Committee for delivering such an outstanding event. Table tennis and Para table tennis shone incredibly bright during this dream summer in Paris. We’ve also seen increasing interest from broadcasters in Para table tennis which shows the sport’s growing global appeal.” The impact of Para table tennis was felt worldwide with medals won by 31 National Paralympic Committees and a multitude of inspiring stories. The Games began in spectacular fashion with Fabien LAMIRAULT lighting the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony. Historic firsts included the introduction of mixed doubles events Najlah Imad AL DAYYENI making history for Iraq by securing the nation’s first-ever Paralympic medal in Para table tennis – a gold Japan’s Natsuki WADA securing the country’s first-ever gold in a women’s event while the Netherlands’ Kelly van ZON and China’s Feng PANFENG claimed their fourth and fifth consecutive gold respectively. Adding to the excitement Team GB’s 14-year-old sensation Bly TWOMEY clinched two bronze medals in Paris and Cuba’s Yunier FERNANDEZ clinched the country’s first-ever gold. This growing global appeal is also the fruit of successful development programme in non-traditional markets. Italy enjoyed its most successful Paralympic Games in table tennis since the inaugural Paralympic Games in Rome 1960 showing the results of a determined 20-year rebuild. Once a rising presence Thailand has also established itself as a force to be reckoned with. This exhilarating experience at Paris 2024 has elevated both table tennis and Para table tennis to new heights setting the stage for an exciting new chapter at Los Angeles 2028. Looking ahead the ITTF is committed to maintaining this momentum with its dynamic Para table tennis series including 20 events as well as the Continental Para Table Tennis Championships next year for which the ITTF Executive Board has selected the following host nations: Egypt Brazil China Sweden and New Zealand. ALL PARIS 2024 PARALYMPIC MEDALLISTS Class 4 Men’s Singles Gold Medallist: KIM Young-Gun (KOR) Silver Medallist: WANCHAI Chaiwut (THA) Bronze Medallist: KIM Jung-Gil (KOR) and Isa OGUNKUNLE (NGR) Class 9 Women’s Singles Gold Medallist: Karolina PEK (POL) Silver Medallist: XIONG Guiyan (CHN) Bronze Medallist: LI Na Lei (AUS) and Alexa SZVITACS (HUN) Class 6 Women’s Singles Gold Medallist: Najlah Al-DAYYENI (IRQ) Silver Medallist: Maryna LYTOVCHENKO (UKR) Bronze Medallist: Malik ALIEVA (NPA) and Camelia CIRIPAN (ROU) Class 4 Women’s Singles Gold Medallist: Sandra MIKOLASCHEK (GER) Silver Medallist: Borislava PERIC-RANKOVIC (SRB) Bronze Medallist: GU Xiaodan (CHN) and Zhou Ying (CHN) Class 9 Men’s Singles Gold Medallist: Laurens DEVOS (BEL) Silver Medallist: Lucas DIDIER (FRA) Bronze Medallist: MA Lin (AUS) and Ander CEPAS (ESP) Class 8 Men’s Singles Gold Medallist: Viktor DIDUKH (UKR) Silver Medallist: ZHAO Shuai (CHN) Bronze Medallist: Maksym NIKOLENKO (UKR) and Phisit WANGPHONPHATHANASIRI (THA) Class 8 Women’s Singles Gold Medallist: HUANG Wenjuan (CHN) Silver Medallist: Aida HUSIC DAHLEN (NOR) Bronze Medallist: Florencia PEREZ (CHI) and Juliane WOLF (GER) Class 3 Women’s Singles Gold Medallist: Andela MUZINIC VINCETIC (CRO) Silver Medallist: YOON Jiyu (KOR) Bronze Medallist: Carlotta RAGAZZINI (ITA) and XUE Juan (CHN) Class 7 Men’s Singles Gold Medallist: YAN Shuo (CHN) Silver Medallist: William BAYLEY (GBR) Bronze Medallist: Jean Paul MONTANUS (NED) and Chalermpong PUNPOO (THA) Class 1-2 Women’s Singles Gold Medallist: Giada ROSSI (ITA) Silver Medallist: LIU Jing (CHN) Bronze Medallist: Dorota BUCLAW (POL) and SEO Su Yeon (KOR) Class 6 Men’s Singles Gold Medallist: Matteo PARENZAN (ITA) Silver Medallist: Rungroj THAINIYOM (THA) Bronze Medallist: Peter ROSENMEIER (DEN) and Ian SEIDENFELD (USA) Class 1 Men’s Singles Gold Medallist: Yunier FERNANDEZ (CUB) Silver Medallist: Robert DAVIES (GBR) Bronze Medallist: Federico FALCO (ITA) and Endre MAJOR (HUN) Class 11 Men’s Singles Gold Medallist: KIM Gi Tae (KOR) Silver Medallist: CHEN Po Yen (TPE) Bronze Medallist: Samuel von EINEM (AUS) and Peter PALOS (HUN) Class 7 Women’s Singles Gold Medallist: Kelly van ZON (NED) Silver Medallist: Kubra KORKUT (TUR) Bronze Medallist: RUI Wang (CHN) and Bly TWOMEY (GBR) Class 3 Men’s Singles Gold Medallist: Feng PANFENG (CHN) Silver Medallist: Thomas SCHMIDBERGER (GER) Bronze Medallist: YUTTJAK Glinbancheun (THA) and JANG Yeongjin (KOR) Class 11 Women’s Singles Gold Medallist: Natsuki WADA (JPN) Silver Medallist: Elena PROKOFEVA (NPA) Bronze Medallist: Ebru ACER (TUR) and Kanami FURUKAWA (JPN) Class 2 Men’s Singles Gold Medallist: Rafal CUPER (POL) Silver Medallist: Jiri SUCHANEK (CZE) Bronze Medallist: Fabien LAMIRAULT (FRA) and CHA Soo Yong (KOR) Class 10 Men’s Singles Gold Medallist: Patryk CHOJNOWSKI (POL) Silver Medallist: HAO Lian (CHN) Bronze Medallist: Filip RADOVIC (MNE) and Mateo BOHEAS (FRA) Class 5 Women’s Singles Gold Medallist: ZHANG Bian (CHN) Silver Medallist: PAN Jiamin (CHN) Bronze Medallist: JUNG Young A (KOR) and MOON Sunghye (KOR) Class 10 Women’s Singles Gold Medallist: QIAN Yang (AUS) Silver Medallist: Natalia PARTYKA (POL) Bronze Medallist: Bruna ALEXANDRE (BRA) and TIAN Shiau Wen (TPE) Class 5 Men’s Singles Gold Medallist: Tommy URHAUG (NOR) Silver Medallist: CHENG Ming Chih (TPE) Bronze Medallist: Ali OZTURK (TUR) and Mitar PALIKUCA

The best Croatian para table tennis player Andjela Mužinić Vincetić won the gold medal in the WS3 category at the Paralympic Games in Paris after a dramatic final in five sets defeating Korean player Jiyu Yoon 3-2 (11:7 11:8 10:12 10:12 13:11). MUŽINIĆ VINCETI trained volleyball until she was 13. However after a car accident in 2006 she ended up in a wheelchair. This is the greatest achievement in the career of the 31-year-old from Split who has previously won two Paralympic medals in the team event with Helena DRETAR KARIĆ – a silver in Rio de Janeiro (2016) and a bronze in Tokyo (2020). “I was afraid to dream of gold; I knew I had the quality because I am ranked second. Now it’s all over I am calm and peaceful and now I just ask myself do I even realize what I’ve won?” said MUŽINIĆ VINCETIĆ after the match. “It was a tough match. This year I played her twice—won once and she won the other time. I played excellently in the first two sets while she made a lot of mistakes. Later she improved her game. After it was 2-2 in sets I thought to myself: be brave. In the fifth set I played tactically well. I don’t even remember that she had a match point; I was fully focused point by point.” Andjela came to Paris as the current European champion having won silver at the World Championships in Granada in 2022 and bronze in Laško in 2018. These were her fourth Paralympic Games. She placed ninth in London and fifth in both Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo. She finally earned her reward in Paris. “In London I was young and lost; I didn’t know how to play and I got in through a wildcard. In Rio I could have won a medal but it didn’t happen and in Tokyo I lost to Yoon in the quarterfinals. I cried for three days. I couldn’t have won in Paris in a better way—my loved ones were in the stands. I found my stride in the semifinals I enjoyed it and overall this Paris experience has been unforgettable “ MUŽINIĆ VINCETIĆ had great support in the stands of the South Paris Arena. Her parents Željko and Maria her husband former Paralympian Kristijan VINCETIĆ her family friends and other athletes all cheered her on. MUŽINIĆ VINCETIĆ has been training with Mirela ŠIKORONJA IVANČIN since 2010. “I’m still overwhelmed. The semifinal was phenomenal but the final was of incredible quality. We prepared in secret but we wanted to remain calm. I always think of our footballers—modest and quiet. That’s how we approached it. I’m proud. I knew the Korean wouldn’t give away any points ” said ŠIKORONJA IVANČIN. “Anđela played incredibly—she had focus speed technique. She deserved this. We worked 15 years for this.”  

At the Paris 2024 Paralympics Norway’s Tommy URHAUG stepped back onto the Paralympic podium for the first time in 12 years claiming the gold medal in the Class 5 Men’s Singles event and the first gold medal in the singles event at Paris 2024. URHAUG a seasoned Paralympian with a career spanning over two decades defeated Chinese Taipei’s CHENG Ming Chih in a thrilling final. URHAUG also clinched the gold medal at the London 2012 Games in what was then his only finals appearance. Prior to that he earned a bronze medal in the singles event at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics solidifying his reputation as one of the sport’s top competitors. Now at his seventh Paralympic Games URHAUG has once again proven his expertise by reaching the pinnacle of his sport.  “It’s an amazing feeling. I didn’t quite believe that I could do it again. But I know I’m a good player and I’ve beaten all these players before. So there was a small small chance but I didn’t actually believe it. It feels incredible to now have this gold medal around my neck.It’s really special. My youngest daughter was just one-and-a-half when I won in London. She missed Rio (2016) and Tokyo (2020) and now she’s back here and I won. She is my lucky charm it’s something with her.” In the semifinals URHAUG beat Turkey’s Ali OZTURK the bronze medallist from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics in straight sets 3-0 to secure his place in the gold medal match. The final against CHENG Ming Chih was a battle of wills. Cheng pushed URHAUG to his limits 3-2 (5-11 11-7 7-11 11-7 11-9). Day 6 featured captivating action across multiple classes. In the Men’s Singles Class 9 Swedish debutant Daniel GUSTAFSSON delivered a standout performance defeating China’s ZHAO Yiqing. In the Women’s Singles Class 8 Norway’s Aida Dahlen HUSIC faced a tough battle against debutant Yuri TOMONO rallying from 2-1 down to secure her place in the semifinals and guaranteeing herself at least a bronze medal adding to her Women’s Doubles bronze from earlier in the Games. Meanwhile the Women’s Singles Class 10 saw two intense semifinals setting the stage for an eagerly anticipated final tomorrow. Poland’s Natalia PARTYKA narrowly edged out Chinese Taipei’s TIAN Shiau Wen in a 3-2 contest while Australia’s YANG Qian the reigning Tokyo 2020 champion overcame Brazil’s Bruna ALEXANDRE in another nail-biting 3-2 match. The day also saw exciting matches in the Men’s Singles Classes 3 and 7 and Women’s Singles Classes 6 and 9 each contributing to the electric atmosphere in the arena.

History is about to be made at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games as for the first time ever three Olympians will compete in the table tennis competition. Among the 19 athletes who have participated in both the Olympics and Paralympics three will be part of this year’s event marking a truly extraordinary moment in the sport. The women’s singles Class 10 competition is shaping up to be a gripping event with three Olympians ready to take the stage: Melissa TAPPER of Australia Bruna ALEXANDRE of Brazil and Natalia PARTYKA of Poland. These elite athletes will face fierce competition as they challenge the reigning champion Australia’s Qian YANG for the coveted title. At the heart of the competition is seven-time Paralympian Natalia PARTYKA. PARTYKA is determined to reclaim her crown after her long-standing dominance in the event was interrupted by Yang’s victory at Tokyo 2020. PARTYKA’S comeback marks one of the most highly anticipated moments of the Paris 2024 Games. “It is a really strong field. We will have some tough matches. Step by step. I know I’m capable of winning gold and that is my goal ” PARTYKA shared ahead of the competition. “There are three four or five girls that can win so we will see.” Natalia PARTYKA’S Paralympic journey began at the astonishing age of 11 when she made her debut at the Sydney 2000 Games. This achievement cemented her place in history as the youngest Paralympic athlete ever. Since then she has amassed six Paralympic gold medals winning the Class 10 Women’s Singles in four consecutive Paralympic Games (2004 2008 2012 and 2016). PARTYKA’S exceptional career extends beyond the Paralympics. She has competed in four Olympic Games (2008 2012 2016 and 2020) making her the first table tennis player to participate in both competitions at such a high level. Her ability to bridge the gap between able-bodied and para sport has made her a global icon. In 2022 after retiring from the Olympic national team PARTYKA shifted her focus solely to her Paralympic career. Reflecting on the decision she said “I was tired—it was enough and I didn’t want more. It was the right decision and I’m proud of myself that I made it.” The Paris 2024 Games mark a new chapter for PARTYKA who is competing exclusively in the Paralympics for the first time since 2008. Her refreshed mindset and fierce determination will make her a formidable contender in the Class 10 event.

A historic moment unfolded at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games as China’s ZHAO Shuai and MAO Jingdian were crowned the first-ever Mixed Doubles Paralympic champions. Competing in the Class 17 Mixed Doubles final ZHAO and MAO faced off against their compatriots PENG Weinan and XIONG Guiyan securing a decisive 11-9 11-6 11-8 victory to etch their names into the history books. This win also marks a transformative moment for Para table tennis as it embraces this new event. The first three days of the Games saw the long-awaited return of men’s and women’s doubles making a historic comeback after last being featured in 1976. This resurgence was marked by exceptional performances particularly on Day 3 where several gold medals were awarded across the doubles events. In the Men’s Doubles Class 4 final Slovakia’s Jan RIAPOS making his eighth Paralympic appearance secured his sixth gold medal alongside partner Peter LOVAS who is making his Paralympic debut. This victory cements RIAPOS’ legacy as a legend of the sport showcasing his enduring excellence on the Paralympic stage. In the Women’s Doubles Class 10 final China’s GU Xiaodan and PAN Jiamin took the top honours. The Men’s Doubles Class 8 also saw China excel with CAO Ningning and FENG Panfeng clinching the gold. Australia’s LEI Li Na and YANG Qian added another thrilling chapter to the day by winning the Women’s Doubles Class 20 final making it Australia’s first Para table tennis medal in Paris.