February 24, 2016

Markham Once Again City to Decide Olympic Games Fortunes
Courtesy of ITTF

Success for Wu Yue of the United States in the Women’s Singles event at the 2015 Pan American Games in Markham, Toronto secured her place in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

She can make her preparations for the visit to the Brazilian city; for others with such aspirations, they must compete in the forthcoming North American Olympic Games Qualification Tournament.

Play commences on Friday April 8^th and concludes on Sunday April 10th, once again Markham will be the home for proceedings.

Places Available
Places for three players in the Men’s Singles event and three in the counterpart Women’s Singles competition are allocated to North America via the continental qualification system.

However, the fact that Wu Yue emerged successful at the Pan American Games means that only two places are available in the Women’s Singles event.

Knock-Out Principle
Play will be the knock-out principle throughout with the winners of each event securing a place in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Throughout, the proviso is a maximum of two men and two women per National Olympic Committee are eligible for each of the Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles events at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Entries 
A maximum of four players per event from: Bermuda, Canada, United States, US Virgin Islands will be accepted.

ITTF Olympic Singles Ranking 
Success at North American Olympic Games Qualification Tournament guarantees a place in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games but for those who do not gain qualification, the door is not totally closed.

Players, who have participated in the Continental events but have not qualified, will be eligible via the ITTF Olympic Singles Ranking list issued in early May 2016.

The 22 highest named eligible players will gain qualification; however this number may be increased if the host country place is reallocated or the Team Quota places of, likewise 22 players, is not fully used.

Total Quota
Overall the total quota for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games including all four events – Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s team, Women’s Team – is 86 men and 86 women.