What to do in an injury situation

Table Tennis Rules

Last updated 2 years ago

Jasper Low

Jasper Low Asked 2 years ago

Just earlier today, I played a best of 5 match with my friend. The match was pretty tense for us and the score got closer and closer, always 1 or 2 points ahead or behind. Suddenly at 2 sets apiece and 7 all, I suffered a toe injury and I paused the match for a few minutes. After a while I decided to resume play and fought for all every point like a relentless dragon because I felt the boiling desire to finish the match with the results in my hands. I lost the 4 points consecutively and lost the match. At that moment I felt like a fuming volcano and a bottomless sea at the same time. After the training section, I remembered about yu mengyu's leg injury in the Olympic Games 2020. So my question is what should you do if you suffer an injury Mid-match?

Or what should you do if your opponent is the one getting injured? 


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario Answered 2 years ago

Hi Jasper,

I don't think the situation changes whether it is you or your opponent that gets injured.  If you get injured during a match and it isn't an existing injury you get a 10 minute injury time out to get yourself some treatment and try to recover.

This is the relevant Rule:

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.

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.


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