In a match what happens if you are injured. Can you continue, are you allowed to recover before playing on?

The answer depends on whether you had a previous injury and have aggravated it or whether you incurred the injury during the match. It also depends on whether the injury is due to your fitness. You are only allowed a break if you have an accident during the match and incur an injury.

Fitness

Therefore, if you get a cramp, you are not allowed a break because that is due to your level of fitness and is not an accident. Similarly if you had an injury in a previous match and then start another match you would not be entitled to a break. If you have an ongoing problem you are not allowed a break for that problem either. So ensure you are fit enough for the game that you play. If you go into a match with an injury you can’t use it as an excuse for a break during play. You are just going to have to live with it.

How Long

The maximum amount of break you are allowed is 10 minutes. The referee has to also feel that this break will not disadvantage the other player.

The ITTF rule states:
The referee may allow a suspension of play, of the shortest practical duration, and in no circumstances more than 10 minutes, if a player is temporarily incapacitated by an accident, provided that in the opinion of the referee the suspension is not likely to be unduly disadvantageous to the opposing player or pair.

3.04.04.05 A suspension shall not be allowed for a disability which was present or was reasonably to be expected at the beginning of the match, or where it is due to the normal stress of play; disability such as cramp or exhaustion, caused by the player’s current state of fitness or by the manner in which play has proceeded, does not justify such an emergency suspension, which may be allowed only for incapacity resulting from an accident, such as injury caused by a fall.