Bhavinaben Patel: I have proved that nothing is impossible

Bhavinaben Patel celebrates her semi-final win over China’s Miao Zhang in Tokyo on Saturday. Pic/PCI

Assured of at least a Paralympic silver medal after reaching the table tennis finals here, India's Bhavinaben 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 with a hard-fought 3-2 win over China's Miao Zhang in a Class 4 semi-final here on Saturday.

She 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.

Also Read: Tokyo Paralympics: Sensational Bhavina continues historic run, reaches final

"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 12 months 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 No. 1 Zhang. The two players had met 11 times before. Patel will take on World No. 1 Chinese paddler Ying Zhou in the summit clash today.

Rakesh in pre-quarters

Rakesh Kumar continued his impressive run of form to storm into the pre-quarter-finals while his teammate Shyam Sundar Swami made a second round exit as Indian archers had a mixed day.

Kumar had near perfect four ends, dropping just one point each enroute to totalling 144 out of a possible 150. Meanwhile, India's javelinist Ranjeet Bhati bowed out
after failing to register even a single valid throw in his six attempts in the men's class F57 final.

Two Afghan athletes arrive

Afghanistan's two Paralympic athletes have arrived in Tokyo and will compete at the Games, the International Paralympic Committee said Saturday. Zakia Khudadadi and Hossain Rasouli were evacuated last weekend to France from the Taliban-controlled country in a "major global operation", the IPC said.

Khudadadi will compete in the women's taekwondo K44 -49kg category on September 2, and Rasouli will run in the men's 400m T47 athletics event the next day.

Entire nation is praying for your success: PM

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday congratulated Bhavina Patel for her sensational semi-final win at the Tokyo Paralympics, saying her accomplishments have inspired the entire nation. "Congratulations Bhavina Patel! You played excellently. The entire nation is praying for your success and will be cheering for you tomorrow. Give your best and play without any pressure. Your accomplishments inspire the entire nation," Modi tweeted.

Also Read: TT: Bhavinaben advances; Sonalben bows out

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