How it works, what you need to know

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Here’s what you need to know about table tennis at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

When did table tennis become an Olympic sport?

Table tennis made its debut in 1988, when Seoul successfully bid for the Summer Games. Since then, it has been a permanent fixture at the Olympic Games, and will be played for the 10th time in Paris.

How does Olympic table tennis work?

Five medal-awarding events will be held over two weeks: men’s and women’s team competitions, men’s and women’s singles competitions, and a mixed doubles tournament, which was added in 2021.

Each singles tournament is a single-elimination draw with 64 participants (maximum two per country) with byes awarded to higher-ranked players. These matches are played in a best-of-seven game format, with each match decided by the first to 11 points (with two won).

The mixed doubles tournament will feature 16 teams. Each country is allowed to enter one team. The tournament will be played in a best-of-five format.

The team competition consists of two singles, one doubles, and then two more singles matches if necessary, with the first team to win three matches advancing in a 16-team, single-elimination tie. All team matches are best-of-five games.

Qualification for all events is based on a mix of results from designated continental and international tournaments, plus the world rankings. Each country is represented by a maximum of three men and three women.

Losers of the semi-finals in all events play a bronze medal match.

Who are the best athletes on Team USA in table tennis?

Although he wasn’t expected to compete for a medal, Kanak Jha secured a spot in the men’s singles event through the ITTF Americas Olympic qualifying tournament and will be competing in his third Olympics. He lost his eligibility in 2016 as a 16-year-old, but won two preliminary rounds in Tokyo to reach the last 32. By earning a spot through the Pan American Games, the U.S. will compete in the women’s team competition and have two singles competitors. Those spots will be filled by four-time Olympians Lily Zhang and Amy Wang, both of whom are ranked in the top 40.

What is the international landscape of Olympic table tennis?

This has been more or less a one-nation show. Since joining the Summer Games, China has won 32 of the 37 gold medals and 20 of the 37 silver. Sun Yingsha, who finished second in Tokyo, comes to Paris as a distant No. 1 among the women, while Wang Chuqin has climbed to the highest men’s ranking in the world since being selected as a reserve for China in 2021.

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