Tokyo Paralympics: India’s Bhavina Patel scripts history, reaches final of table tennis event
Mangalore Today News Network
Tokyo, Aug 28, 2021: India’s Bhavina Patel scripted history by becoming the first Indian table tennis player to enter the final in the Paralympics with a gutsy win over world number 3 Zhang Miao of China in the women’s singles Class 4 event at Tokyo on Saturday. Bhavina rallied from a game down to beat Zhang Miao 7-11, 11-7, 11-4, 9-11, 11-8 to make it into the final.
Bhavina will take on China’s Ying Zhou in the gold medal match on Sunday.
Earlier, the 34-year-old has defeated world number 5 Borislava Peric Rankovic of Serbia 11-5, 11-6, 11-7 in straight games in the semi-finals.
In the round of 16, Bhavina got the better of Joyce de Oliveira of Brazil 12-10 13-11, 11-6 to become the first Indian table tennis player to reach the quarterfinals in the Paralympics.
Now we #GoForGold!!! @BhavinaPatel6 is through to the FINALS #TableTennis 🏓🔥🔥🔥🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 After beating World no. 3 #CHN today, #BhavinaPatel will be seen in #Tokyo2020 #Paralympics FINALS tomorrow morning!!! pic.twitter.com/V8hMgst5wi
— Paralympic India 🇮🇳 #Cheer4India 🏅 #Praise4Para (@ParalympicIndia) August 28, 2021
Athletes in Class 4 category have fair sitting balance and fully functional arms and hands. Their impairment may be due to a lower spinal-cord lesion or cerebral palsy.
“I could win my final match due to the support of the people of India. Please keep supporting me so that I can win my semifinal match," Patel said after her semi-final match.
Courtesy:India Today