Encouragement of Russian youth to physical culture and sports is currently one of the most pressing issues. Registered low level of physical activity leads to various diseases and a decrease in the quality of life of students. The purpose of our study is to improve approaches to optimizing physical education classes with students with disabilities based on the assessment and analysis of the motivational aspects of their involvement in table sports. The study is carried out within the framework of the annual sports tournament “Without barriers to success” among the youth of Chita (2022) has made it possible to identify areas for improving approaches to physical education and adaptive physical education optimizing at the university. A total of 63 students took part in the study. The participants are divided into 2 groups: main (group 1) – 31 people and special medical group (SMG; group 2) – 32 people. The author’s questionnaire consists of 21 questions and three main blocks: socio-demographic, motivational and comparative-analytical are included in it. According to the assessment results of the involvement of students of the two groups in physical activity, no statistically significant differences have been found. 83,9 % of the students of the main group are always engaged in physical activity in the classroom. A small number of persons of the 2nd group, for objective and subjective reasons, are not motivated to attend physical education lessons. The important components of the students’ motivation increasing to engage in physical education are active use of table sports games in elective courses in physical education and sports, development of proposed forms of activity for persons with disabilities in the structure of classes; development of sports infrastructure of universities; individual approach to students; the professional competences in the field of inclusive education of teachers improving. Keywords: students, university, board games, motivation, physical culture