Class 8 · Physical Education and Well Being · New NCERT
Chapter 4: Fundamental Skills of Sports – Table Tennis
"Fundamental Skills of Sports – Table Tennis" is Unit 4, from about page 94 to page 135. The contents list thirteen skills, from grip and footwork to pushes, services, drives, topspin, smash and a game. Students learn each skill step by step, from handling the bat to playing a rally and a match, with attention to safety, space and fair play. The unit builds hand-eye coordination, reaction time and concentration, and gives a first structured introduction to the sport, building on the Class 7 racket sport unit of badminton.
This is chapter 4 of 6 in Khel Yatra, the Class 8 Physical Education and Well Being textbook, in Unit 4, Fundamental Skills of Sports – Table Tennis, and begins on page 94 of the printed 2026-27 book. It follows "Fundamental Skills of Sports – Athletics" and is followed by "Fundamental Skills of Sports – Volleyball".
The goals in "Fundamental Skills of Sports – Table Tennis" go beyond physical skill. The book links movement with socio-emotional learning: encouraging classmates, accepting mistakes, sharing equipment and handling both success and disappointment gracefully. Teachers are advised to give enough time at the end of the session for circle time, where children describe their experience and listen to others. Variations of each activity keep it interesting and allow adaptation to local space, weather and resources.
Try a short family session based on "Fundamental Skills of Sports – Table Tennis". Let the child lead, explain the rules and show the movements. This turns learning into shared fun, and builds regular physical activity into the family routine.
This overview is written from the 2026-27 textbook's Contents page, its preface and the chapter title, to help families and teachers prepare. Please read the chapter itself for exact content, activities and exercises.
Topics covered
- Grip
- Footwork
- Forehand Push
- Backhand Push
- Basic Service
- Topspin Service
- Backspin Service
- Forehand Drive
- Backhand Drive
- Forehand Topspin
- Backhand Topspin
- Smash
- Table Tennis Game