A six-strong Table Tennis team featuring a mix of experience and youth will feature at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, with the team announced Thursday.
Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Melissa Tapper leads the team, securing qualification for her third Olympic Games after an undefeated run through the Table Tennis Australia qualification trials.
After making history in 2016 by being the first Australian to compete in both the Olympics and Paralympics in any sport, Tapper will contest the Women’s Singles alongside Tokyo 2020 Team Member Michelle Bromley.
Birmingham 2022 silver medallist Min Hyuang Jee will join forces with Nicholas Lum to debut in Paris, with the duo having secured their spots on the team after winning the Oceania Mixed Doubles qualification tournament.
Rounding out the team will be fellow debutants Hwan Bae and Finn Luu, who took out the top two spots at the selection trials in the men’s tournament.
Tapper said it was a privilege to play a sport she loves on the biggest stage, representing not just her country but her family and friends.
“I can’t actually believe it. The goal as a kid was to qualify for an Olympics, I now am getting to head off to my third!” Tapper said.
“I always just want to play my best table tennis every time I step out on the court, but if I can inspire just one young girl to get active in sport or a child with a disability to believe they can be whatever they want, then that’s the real achievement.”
Boarding passes 🎟️ = Secured ✅ ✈️
Four table tennis debutants and two returning Olympians are off to #Paris2024 🏓#AllezAUS | @TableTennisAus | @Qantas pic.twitter.com/evxzeGVbG2
— AUS Olympic Team (@AUSOlympicTeam) June 26, 2024
With Australia having been represented at every Olympic Games since its debut in 1988, the team will be looking to its mix of experience and youth to lead the way through the tournament.
The Table Tennis competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be held from Saturday 27 July to Saturday 10 August at South Paris Arena 4.
With thanks to the Australian Olympic Committee and Table Tennis Australia.
Current Australian Table Tennis Team (as of 27 June 2024)
| Name | Age | State | Olympic Games Experience | Commonwealth Games Experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finn Luu | 19 | VIC | Debut | Birmingham 2022 – Men’s Doubles – 4th, B2022 – Mixed Doubles – Quarter-final, B2022 – Men’s Singles – Round of 32, B2022 – Men’s Team, Group Stage |
| Hwan Bae | 19 | NSW | Debut | |
| Melissa Tapper | 24 | VIC | Tokyo 2020 – Mixed Doubles – Round of 16, Women’s Team – Round of 16; Rio 2016 – Women’s Singles – Preliminary Round, Women’s Team – First Round | Gold Coast 2018 – Women’s Para-Sport Singles 6-10 – Gold, GC2018 – Women’s Team – 4th, GC2018 – Women’s Singles – Round of 16, GC2018 – Women’s Doubles – Quarter-final, GC2018 – Mixed Doubles – Third Round; Glasgow 2014 – Women’s Team – Bronze, G2014 – Mixed Doubles – Third Round |
| Michelle Bromley | 36 | NSW | Tokyo 2020 – Women’s Team – Round of 16, Women’s Singles – Round 1 | Gold Coast 2018 – Women’s Team – 4th, GC2018 – Women’s Doubles – Quarter-final |
| Mn Hyuang Jee | 37 | QLD | Debut | Birmingham 2022 – Women’s Doubles – Silver, B2022 – Women’s Team – Bronze, B2022 – Mixed Doubles – 4th, B2022 – Women’s Singles – Round of 16 |
| Nicholas Lum | 19 | VIC | Debut | Birmingham 2022 – Mixed Doubles – 4th, B2022 – Men’s Doubles – 4th, B2022 – Men’s Singles – Round of 16, B2022 – Men’s Team – Group Stage |
