Bhavina Patel created history in the Table Tennis event in Tokyo Paralympics. She assured India’s first medal in Tokyo Paralympics by reaching the semi-final of the women’s singles Class 4 event yesterday. Bhavina followed up with a win in the last 4.
Bhavina had surprised even the Indian camp in this Paralympics with her sensational show. It was so exciting to watch her play Table Tennis. She stunned her world no. 3 Chinese opponent. The follow-up score was – 7-11 11-7 11-4 9-11 11-8 in the semifinal showdown. And that lasted just 34 minutes.
The 34-year-old lady became the first-ever Indian table tennis player to acquire a spot on the platform at the Paralympic Games. She knocked out world no 2 Borislava Peric-Rankovic of Serbia in straight games.
There is no bronze medal season play-off match. In table tennis at this version and both semi-finalists are guaranteed an award. So, Bhavina Patel will get either Gold or Silver.
Bhavina Hasmukhbhai Patel is a paddler. She plays table tennis in her wheelchair. has won a number of gold and silver medals in national and international competitions. In 2011, she reached the ranking of World Number 2, by winning Silver Medal for India in The Individual Category at the PTT Thailand Table Tennis Championship.
After the match scene
“This is the first time an Indian player has beaten a Chinese opponent (in table tennis). It’s a huge, huge achievement for me. Everyone was telling me that it’s impossible to beat a Chinese player. But today I have proved that nothing is impossible in the world. If you want to do it. “Everything is possible”, Patel said after winning the semifinal match.
PM Narendra Modi tweeted to congratulate her. Kiren Rijiju, the former sports minister, and Deepa Malik, president of the Indian Paralympic Committee praised Bhavina for reaching the women’s singles table tennis final. We wish to see her with gold.
