New era for Para Table Tennis starts in Italy
Seven British athletes will compete in the World Para Future Lignano tournament in Italy this week (March 6-9) including Ryan Henry (class 8) and Shae Thakker (class 10) who have recently moved from the British Para Table Tennis Pathway squad to the Performance squad.
The tournament marks the start of a new era for Para table tennis following the introduction of a new three-tiered competition structure for the ITTF World Para Circuit with a brand-new logo, an updated ranking system and more than 20 events across all continents designed to raise the profile of the sport worldwide and making it the most global and diverse Para circuit in ITTF history.
The ITTF World Para Circuit 2025 will highlight athletes across three competition tiers: Future, Challenger and Elite. Each tier offers Para players the opportunity to gain experience and compete at increasingly high levels. Future events are designed to introduce emerging talent to international competition, with Challenger events building towards the Elite events that will feature the very best athletes and showcase the best of Para table tennis.
The ITTF has also introduced a revamped ranking system that offers players a clear and accessible path for advancement. Points are awarded based on performance at each event, with rankings reflecting the best results within the past 52 weeks. Rankings will now be updated on a weekly basis, allowing fans and players alike to track progress in real-time. A one-year transition period will allow players to defend their current points as they adapt to the new ranking system.
Rankings will be determined based on a player or doubles pair’s top six results within the past year, with specific restrictions to ensure fairness (eg. a maximum of one result from restricted-participation events and two results from U23 competitions). They will cover senior (all players) and U23 categories across 11 classes.
Ranking points will be awarded based on final standings at sanctioned events, with higher-tier events like the Paralympic Games and World Championships offering up to 2,000 points for champions. Points will remain valid for one year, expiring on the anniversary week of their inclusion. Players will no longer lose points for match losses, a move aimed at reducing mental stress and fostering a growth-oriented competitive atmosphere.
“Italy is the first tournament under the new ITTF structure,” said BPTT programme manager Shaun Marples, “and we are really looking forward to going there and competing. It’s a completely new dynamic now as it is no longer relevant who you beat, it’s about how far in the draw you can get that determines how many points you come away with. This tournament will be a great experience for our young players. In Sheffield, the sports hall has been buzzing with lots of players all working hard as they head into their final stages in preparation for the start of the new season. It’s an exciting time to be involved and we look forward to seeing how this year develops.”
Also competing in Lignano will be Theo Bishop (class 7), Max Flint (class 10), Romain Simon (class 3) and teenagers Dan Thomson (class 6) and Jacob Wicks (class 6).
The full British squad for the SQY French Para Open is:
Daniel Thomson, 19, Brighton/Sheffield (class 7)
Jacob Wicks, 19, Cwmbran/Sheffield (class 6)
Max Flint, 20, Guildford/Loughborough (class 10)
Romain Simon, 35, Leyton/Chigwell (class 3)
Ryan Henry, 24, Ardrossan/Sheffield (class 8)
Shae Thakker, 21, High Wycombe/Sheffield (class 10)
Theo Bishop, 21, Rossendale/Sheffield (class 7)