Bhavina Patel continued to script history as she became the first Indian to enter the final of a table tennis event in the Paralympics.
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Assured of at least a Paralympic silver medal after reaching the table tennis finals at the Paralympic games, India’s Bhavina Patel on Saturday said she doesn’t consider herself as disabled and her performance at the Tokyo Games proves that “nothing is impossible”.
Patel became the first Indian to enter the final of a table tennis event in the Paralympics. She fought hard for her 3-2 win over China’s Miao Zhang in a class 4 semifinal on Saturday. Athletes competing in class 4 have fair sitting balance and full functional arms and hands.
The 34-year-old from Gujarat stunned her world no. 3 Chinese opponent 7-11 11-7 11-4 9-11 11-8 in the semi-final showdown that lasted 34 minutes.
#IND Bhavina Patel’s dream run continues! ? One win away from here GOLD medal. India is proud of you ??#Paralympics #Praise4Para pic.twitter.com/0yScdLROny
— Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel) August 28, 2021
“I don’t consider myself as disabled, I am always confident I can do anything and today I also proved that we are not behind and para table tennis is as ahead as other sports,” said Patel, who was diagnosed with polio when she was a 12-year-old.
“I fought against China and it is always said that it is difficult to win against China. Today I proved that nothing is impossible, you can do everything”
This was Patel’s first victory against the former world number one Zhang. The two players had met 11 times before. Patel, who plays in a wheelchair, will take on world number one Chinese paddler Ying Zhou in the final clash on Sunday.
She said the focus on the mental aspect of the game helped her during the match. Not looking flustered at any point, Bhavina’s game at the Tokyo Paralympics has been largely formulaic and highly strategic. Behind her shots, there is research and knowledge of the opponent’s game. There is no look of surprise on her face as she makes difficult angles and forces her opponent to commit errors. Bhavina, a former World No. 2 and a medalist at the 2018 Asian Para Games has every tactic in her craft.
“My schedule used to start at 4 am and I used to focus more on my mind, through meditation and yoga I learnt to keep myself calm. During matches, sometimes we make mistakes in a hurry and we lose points. But I could control my thoughts today,” she said.
“I want to thank the coaches, who taught me tricks and technique because of them I have been able to reach here.”
Patel also acknowledged the support that she received from different quarters.
“When a player doesn’t get financial support, it becomes difficult to move ahead in sport because the expenses of playing tournaments are so huge and it is difficult to afford for a middle-class family but SAI, TOPS, PCI, government, OGQ, Blind People’s Association, my family, all have supported me.”
Bhavina, who hails from Vadnagar in Gujarat’s Mehsana district, moved to Ahmedabad after marrying Nikul Patel, who has played junior cricket for Gujarat. Her father runs a small cutlery shop in the village.
“She’s 90 percent disabled, but she has the determination of 10 able-bodies. I get inspired from her will and confidence,” he said over the phone while speaking to Times of India.
