Bhavina Patel Scripts History, Becomes First Indian Player to Secure Medal in Paralympics

Bhavinaben Patel on Friday scripted history by becoming the first Indian table tennis player to secure a medal in the Paralympics after she entered the semifinals with a stunning straight-game win.

Bhavina Patel shocks world No.2 Borislav Rankovic Peric 11-5, 11-6, 11-7 to assure herself of a medal after reaching the semi-finals of the table tennis event. Shot-putter and flagbearer Tek Chand threw his season best distance of 9.04m in Men’s Shotput F-55 event but finished last in the 8-man final. Para-acher produced his season best performance as he finished 3rd in the rankings round of the Men’s Compound rankings round with 699 points.

Shyam Sundar, India’s second archer in the event finished 21st with 682 points. In the Men’s Recurve rankings round, Vivek Chikara finished 10th with 609 points while Harvinder Singh with 600 points finished 21st. Earlier, Sakina Khatun ended the women’s 50kg powerlifting in 5th position with her best lift of 93 kg.

India got off to a good start as paddler Bhavina Patel has qualified for the quarterfinals of the para table tennis C4 event. Bhavina breezed past her higher ranked Brazilian opponent Joyce de Oliveira of Brazil 12-10, 13-11, 11-6. She will face Borislava Peric Rankovic of Serbia next. Meanwhile, archer Jyoti Baliyan finished the rankings round in the 15th position.

India are competing in nine sporting event in Paralympics and the expectations are quite high as four athletes are ranked at the top spot in their respective events while six players are placed at the second spot and ten sportspeople are occupying the third place.