Britain will enter six table tennis players at London 2012 after the sport's national governing body successfully persuaded the British Olympic Association they would meet their criteria.

Three men and three women will be granted home nations places - available to the BOA in the vast majority of all sports with basketball the most notable exception.

Already the BOA have confirmed Great Britain would participate in indoor volleyball and handball - both of which are considered fringe sports and are expected to provide little chance of success at London 2012.

Success is not the focal point of the BOA's criteria however - rather that the sport can demonstrate credible performance and a viable long-term legacy plan while chief executive Andy Hunt has repeatedly warned that no athletes or teams would be merely coming along for the Olympic ride.

Table tennis, which was among the eight sports to have its UK Sport funding cut after Beijing 2008 and the only sport not to have it restored, must have been fearing the worst after the BOA requested more information from the British Table Tennis Federation while reports that the BOA are suffering financial hardship were ominous - even if Hunt insisted that would not affect the size of the team.

But Hunt confirmed that the likes of 21-year-old Paul Drinkhall and 22-year-old Kelly Sibley, the British men's and women's number one respectively, would compete at London 2012.

"We are very pleased to confirm that Team GB will be represented in both the singles and team table tennis events at the London 2012 Olympic Games," said Hunt.

"The British Table Tennis Federation has now demonstrated to us that they have laid solid foundations to maximise the opportunity of competing at a home Games and developed programmes to ensure a strong long term legacy for the sport.

"British Table Tennis has proven to us that the young squad of players is capable of delivering a credible performance on the field of play in 2012.

"Real progress is being made in elite performance; there are now four British players - two male, two female - ranked in the top 200 in the world compared with none prior to the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

"Table tennis is a very accessible and affordable sport for people of all ages from all backgrounds.

"I'm delighted that British players now have the firm goal of competing on home soil in London 2012 to aim towards, especially with this weekend's National Championships on in Sheffield."

BTTF chairman Alex Murdoch believes the decision is vindication of the progress made by his organisation since the Beijing Olympics.

"On behalf of the British Table Tennis Federation I am delighted that our players will be represented at the London 2012 Olympic Games," he added.

"This endorses the significant progress made across the UK by our sport from schools to grass roots to the elite level.

"This will be a great opportunity to showcase our home grown talent on a truly international stage and further influence the table tennis legacy.

"Hosting the Olympics will be a great British achievement, it is a chance for Britain and London to present itself to the world and I am delighted that our table tennis players will get to do the same."

More Than The Games / Eurosport