Athlete allocation confirmed for 2026 Youth Olympic Games

Table Tennis Australia (TTA) are thrilled to confirm that we have secured one male and one female athlete allocation at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, which will be held in Dakar, Senegal, from October 31 to November 13.  

TTA will hold a dedicated Youth Olympic Games Qualification Trial (the Trial), a round robin event with up to eight male and female athletes set to participate. The winner of both the male and female round robin event will secure the nomination to the Games. 

The trial will take place from Friday 21 – Sunday 23 August, alongside the TTA Tour Queensland, with a location to be announced in due course.  

Athletes can qualify for the Trial through a two-step pathway that combines standout performance and consistency over time. The top four eligible athletes (semi-finalists) in the Under 17 event at TTA Tour NSW (30–31 May 2026) will secure automatic qualification, with remaining places - up to a maximum of eight per gender - filled from the June Under 17 National Ranking List. 

As per the ITTF’s eligibility requirements, all athletes must have participated in at least one (1) International Federation sanctioned event between 25 October 2025 and 25 June 2026 to ensure their eligibility. 

Rob Gomm, General Manager of TTA’s Olympic Program, expressed the importance of Australian representation at the Youth Olympic Games, as well as the TTA Tour, by stating: “The Youth Olympic Games are a perfect stepping stone for young athletes chasing Olympic dreams, particularly with the Brisbane 2032 Summer Olympics just six years away. TTA's qualification pathway is purely objective and open to all who meet the eligibility criteria, balancing recent domestic performances with sustained results in the national ranking system. Participation in WTT events in the designated period also provides our top U17 athletes the chance to show their class internationally.” 

Minimum athlete eligibility for 2026 Youth Olympic Games. Athletes must: