"Our collaboration with the ITTF and Table Tennis Australia is developing into a key relationship for the city, we are enjoying playing a part in developing the sport of table tennis, locally, nationally and internationally."

The event will offer the opportunity for the top players from Oceania to battlie it out for the right to represent the continent at the 2015 ITTF World Cups and also for the top Para-table tennis competitors to try to qualify for the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. 

"Following the previous years' success in hosting the ITTF-Oceania Cup, Bendigo has also been awarded the Oceania Para-table Tennis Championships," said Patrick Gillmann, ITTF executive vice-president.

"This is a great addition to an already successful event, and I look forward to seeing the integration of the athletes at an international level, and playing together side-by-side."

Australia's Melissa Tapper is excited by the prospect of able-bodied and Para-table tennis players taking part in the 2015 ITTF-Oceania Cup and Para-table Tennis Championships ©Table Tennis Australia

Melissa Tapper, who represented Australia in the able-bodied competition at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow earlier this year, is expected to be one of the stars of the tournament.

"This combined event is the perfect way to display Australia's leading Para-athletes alongside able-bodied athletes and the professionalism that they both bring to the court," she said.

"It's important that every athlete's ability would be able to be put on show rather than the disability, and I think next year's ITTF-Oceania Cup and Para-table Tennis Championships will showcase it perfectly."

The Oceania Para-table Tennis Championships was launched in 2013 following the region's separation from Asia, with its first event held in Australian capital Canberra.

This second edition will see up to 21 athletes qualify for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games directly.

"This integration is another great initiative of Table Tennis Australia and Oceania Table Tennis Federation to develop Para-table Tennis in the region, and further showcase the inclusiveness of the sport of table tennis," said Table Tennis Australia chief executive Peter Marriott.

"This event will be a unique opportunity to witness the best players in Oceania compete either to qualify for the 2015 World Cups or for the 2016 Paralympic Games."

The initiative has been welcomed by Jason Hellwig, chief executive of the Australian Paralympic Committee.

"Not only is it exciting that we'll be able to see our Para-table tennis athletes qualify for Rio right here at home, but the fact that they will be playing next to Australia's able-bodied athletes side-by-side is a huge step in Paralympic sport becoming a major part of Australia's sporting identity," he said. 

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