According to a recent survey, 9% of Britons believe they could qualify for the table tennis competition at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 if they started training today.

The YouGov survey after the Paris Olympics found that 27% thought they would qualify for at least one sport if they put in the full four years’ preparation for LA.

Table tennis was fourth on the list of the most likely sports, behind 10m air rifle shooting, which came in at 15%, archery (13%) and badminton (10%).

The survey found men were slightly more confident than women while, not surprisingly, younger people were more confident that older people that they could reach Olympic standards.

In table tennis, 17% of 17-to-25-year-olds believed they could qualify if they started training straight away, with the rate falling to 12% of 25-to-49-year-olds, 6% in the 50-to-64 bracket and 4% in the 65+ age group.

Check out our video to see what happened when our willing volunteer, Rachel, put herself to the test against some of the ParalympicsGB squad at their training base in Sheffield – and found it wasn’t as easy as she thought it would be.

While becoming an Olympian requires talent backed up by years of dedication and commitment, table tennis IS one of the easiest sports on the Olympic programme to start – and who knows where your journey could take you!

Table tennis is accessible to everyone, available in clubs and public places, great for mental and physical health, and a fun and social sport.

Table Tennis England can help you start your journey and support you as you go, whether you are an under-11 with Olympic-sized dreams, someone who wants to be a bit more active and meet new people, or if you want to volunteer to help others to enjoy and achieve in the sport.

Check out some of the opportunities below.

TT Kidz

TT Kidz is an inclusive and accessible programme which children aged between 7-11 can enjoy. They will learn new skills, meet new friends, get fit and most importantly – have fun! 

Bat & Chat

Bat & Chat is an organised social table tennis session for individuals who are over 50. The sessions provide participants with the opportunity to enjoy table tennis in a friendly and relaxed environment.

Places to play

Whether you fancy playing in a club – or even testing yourself in a local league – or just having a bit of fun on a public table, our community has you covered.

Membership

However you want to enjoy table tennis, we have a membership option for you – and all our under-11 memberships are free!

Volunteering

Volunteers are a vital part of the table tennis community and without them much of table tennis activity wouldn’t happen. If you’re interested in volunteering, in any capacity, please let us know.