The road to the Table Tennis event at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games will start at the 2015 European Games in Baku which will qualify one man and one woman the winner of both singles events. Table tennis made its debut in the Olympic Games in 198
The road to the Table Tennis event at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games will start at the 2015 European Games in Baku which will qualify one man and one woman the winner of both singles events.
Table tennis made its debut in the Olympic Games in 1988 in Seoul and has been a regular and popular fixture ever since. After the successful London Games table tennis was promoted in the IOC group review system with only eight Summer Olympic sports ahead of table tennis.
ITTF’s CEO Judit FARAGO stated: “Compared to the last system some changes were implemented to simplify the selection process to make it easier to understand and to ensure that the best players participate at the Continental Qualification Tournament. From now on I am sure that most of the players focus on their dream some of them to become Olympian first time in Rio and for a few maybe one day to step in the footpath of the big trio J-M. SAIVE Z. PRIMORAC J. PERSSON who all made history by playing at seven Olympic Games between 1988 and 2012. “
The 172 positions available in Rio 86 for men and 86 for women will be allocated over 12 months of intense qualification for the players to join table tennis folklore and become Olympians.
There will be four table tennis gold medals on offer at Rio 2016; men’s singles women’s singles men’s teams and women’s teams.
The men’s and women’s singles events will be contested by between 64 to 70 players with a maximum of two per National Olympic Committee (NOC) which will be made up by the below qualification methods:
40 Continental qualification places with a maximum of two (2) athletes per NOC qualified. These 40 positions are composed of: 6 from Africa 11 from Asia 11 for Europe 6 from Latin America 3 for North America and 3 for Oceania
22 ITTF Olympic Singles Ranking not to exceed an overall maximum of two (2) athletes per NOC
1 Tripartite Commission Invitation place
1 Host Country place
The 16 men’s and women’s teams are made up by three players per team. The highest ranked team from each continent (six teams) that has already two qualified players for the singles event secures direct qualification.
The remaining 10 positions are composed of the 9 highest ranked teams that have two players qualified for the singles. If less than 9 countries have two players already qualified the next best teams with one player qualified secures their spot in Rio. The 10th team quota will be allocated to the host nation if not yet qualified through the team selection process.
It is up to the NOC to choose the additional player/players to join the singles players in the team event.
The table tennis event at Rio 2016 will be held in Riocentro similar to the ExCel at London 2012 which is a big and open convention center and hall three will be dedicated for table tennis holding up to 6 000 people and creating an electric atmosphere.
