- Who has claimed the most gold medals in table tennis at the Paralympic Games?
- 2008:
CHN 13 - 2004:CHN 7
- 2000:
FRA 7 - 1996:FRA 6
The Athletes
Table tennis hotshot Will Bayley is focused on a gold medal in London 2012. That’s when he’s not shouting abuse at his TV during The X Factor
Crystal Palace and Cheryl Cole - Joe's a big fan of both. In between he's one of Britain's brightest table tennis hopes
How it works: Table Tennis
The objective is to hit the ball over the net into your opponent's half of the table so that they are unable to return it effectively. Wheelchair players also compete, with a slight tweak on the rules ensuring each serve crosses the back of the table. First to 11 wins the set, in a best-of-five set match.
What you need to know
Table tennis began life as an after dinner game called 'Wiff Waff'. It was played by the upper-classes in England who used books to bat a golf ball back and forth while, like all good athletes, downing large quantities of scotch.
Polish star Natalia Partyka, born without a right hand and forearm, is so good with her left hand that she joined swimmer Natalie Du Toit as one of just two athletes to compete in both the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in 2008.
Table tennis might seem like a fairly danger-free sport, but it was actually banned in the former Soviet Union for 20 years between 1930 and 1950 where there was a consensus that it was damaging to the eyes.
Although table tennis has been part of the Paralympic Games since 1960, it was originally only for athletes in wheelchairs. Standing players were allowed to compete from 1976.
Table tennis was one of the first sports to open up to all disability classes, including athletes with cerebral palsy in 1980 and players with intellectual disabilities in 2000.
What to say: Table Tennis
Impress table tennis aficionados with your knowledge: "Did you know the average ball used in international competition weighs only 2.7g? Oh, you did? Well, did you also know that the net stands at an equally specific 15.25cm high?"
Who's good: Table Tennis
China made its home advantage count in 2008. They won almost twice as many medals as France, their nearest rivals, and took more than half of the 24 gold medals on offer. Expect something similar in 2012.
Inside stories
Will Bayley on his GB team-mates
The world number one dishes the dirt on the GB table tennis squad, including who wears chinos and old granny jumpers...
Will Bayley's date with destiny
GB table tennis star just can't get London 2012 out of his head
Video
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