Japan Association of Physically Disabled Table Tennis Players Opens Training Camp for Representative Players

The Asian Para Games will be held in Jakarta, Indonesia, from October 6th to 13th, while the World Championships will take place in Laško and Celje, Slovenia, from October 15th to 21st. Both events are seen as precursors to the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

Chairman Hatakeyama Koshiro stated, "Japanese para table tennis boasts many world-class players, and we expect this to build momentum for the Tokyo Paralympics. This team features players spanning generations, including the oldest member, Kimie Bessho, and high school student Yuri Tomono. I hope they will unite as one and approach the tournaments with determination."
Attending the press conference were six athletes who had just finished practice: Kimie Bessho, Yuri Tomono, Yukimi Chada, Yukihiro Iwabuchi, Nobuyuki Suzuki, and Nozomi Takeuchi.

Veteran player Kimie Bessho, known for her "butterfly shot," spoke about the championships with a smile: "This will be my fourth appearance amidst many young players, so I really want to win a medal this time. I want to play in a way that shows the excitement of Para table tennis. I don't know if I'll be able to compete in four years, so I definitely want to raise the Japanese flag."
Chada expressed her determination: "I'm nervous since it's my first tournament, but I'm genuinely happy to have earned my spot. I've struggled with confidence issues affecting my play before, but I've kept training to win. Since all my opponents are ranked higher than me, I want to stay calm and play aggressively."
Tomono, also drawing attention as a high school student para-athlete, shared his aspirations: "I can compete thanks to everyone who nurtured and supported me. I want to challenge myself with all my strength, never forgetting my gratitude. First, I want to make sure I'm in top physical condition."

The association has refreshed its logo design as part of a rebranding effort for 2020 and beyond.
In Para Table Tennis, athletes are not categorized by the type of disability they have. Instead, they are classified into 10 levels based on the impact their disability has on their performance. This means athletes with hand disabilities and athletes with leg disabilities may compete in the same class. Recognizing that this sport requires athletes to acknowledge their weaknesses and use their imagination to develop unique playing styles, the association adopted a "design completed by imagination."
Furthermore, to convey the appeal of the sport to a wider audience ahead of 2020, the official website ( https://jptta.or.jp/ ) has been renewed to communicate the sentiment embodied in the catchphrase: "Go beyond table tennis."