TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Kaohsiung will welcome para-athletes from around the world as it hosts the 2025 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Para Challenger from July 2–5.
The four-day event is expected to draw 205 athletes from 12 countries. Participants will compete in five categories: men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles, according to CNA and the ITTF.
Para table tennis is open to athletes with physical or intellectual impairments and follows rules similar to standard table tennis, including the best-of-five format with each game played to 11 points, according to Sports Note and Paralympics Australia.
The tournament’s total prize pool is NT$1.5 million (US$49,920). Gold medalists will receive US$640, silver medalists US$320, and bronze medalists US$160.
Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) expressed pride in the city’s role as host and said the city government will coordinate transportation, accommodations, and venue logistics with relevant agencies. The Kaohsiung Sports Development Bureau will assign staff to provide on-site support throughout the competition.
Taiwan’s top para table tennis players, Lin Tzu-yu (林姿妤) and Tian Shiau-wen (田曉雯)—silver medalists in women’s doubles at the Paris Paralympics—said they were excited to compete on home soil and welcomed the opportunity to face world-class opponents.
Taiwan Paralympic Committee President Mu Ming-chu (穆閩珠) called the tournament a milestone for the nation's para sports community. Mu noted that the event offers athletes a critical opportunity to obtain international classification and earn ranking points essential for qualifying for major competitions, including the Paralympic Games.
