The tournament draws about 500 male and female contestants, selected from preliminaries involving some 1 500 people, including 80 disabled persons, amateurs and ex-players who retired over eight years ago.

Starting in Juche 99 (2010), the annual tournament has grown in the number of participants.

The disabled men and women started learning table tennis several months or one year ago to participate in the tournament.

Mother of So Kwang Nam, the youngest in the current tournament, told KCNA:

"Seeing my son finish third in the individual event, I am grateful to the socialist system that cares so much for the disabled like my son.

I will bring up my son to be a person repaying the benefit."

Mun Kum Ran, a 54-year old disabled woman living in Jungdok-dong, Phyongsong City, South Phyongan Province, said:

"I limp, affected with polio, and I am now middle aged.

But, encouraged by the news of the tournament, I began learning table-tennis two months ago. I am very pleased to attend the tournament."