India’s stars Bhavina Patel and Sonalben Manubhai Patel are set to make their mark in Para table tennis as they begin their singles campaigns at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. Competing in the Class 4 and Class 3 events, respectively, both athletes are eyeing the ultimate prize—a coveted gold medal.
Earlier in the competition, the Patels teamed up in the Class 10 Women’s Doubles but faced a tough challenge, falling to Korea Republic’s Jung Young A and Moon Sunghye with a 3-1 loss (5-11, 6-11, 11-9, 6-11). Despite this setback, both players are now turning their focus to the singles events, where they hope to make a powerful comeback.
Bhavina Patel, already a trailblazer in Para table tennis, made history by winning a silver medal in the Class 4 Women’s Singles at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, becoming the first Indian table tennis player to secure a medal at the Paralympics. This time, she has her sights set on gold. However, her path won’t be easy—she’s likely to face the reigning Paralympic gold medallist, China’s Zhou Ting, in the quarterfinals. A victory there could set up a high-stakes clash against the current world no. 1, Serbia’s Borislava Peric-Rankovic, for a spot in the finals.
Undeterred by the challenge, Bhavina has shown remarkable form since Tokyo. She clinched the gold in the Class 3-5 Women’s Singles at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and added a bronze medal in the Class 4 Women’s Singles at the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, proving she’s a formidable contender.
In the Class 3 Women’s Singles, Sonalben Manubhai Patel is also gearing up for a strong performance. After reaching the quarterfinals at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, she is determined to go further this time and secure a medal. Sonalben’s journey since Tokyo has been impressive; she earned a bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and has claimed multiple golds on the ITTF Para circuit, setting the stage for her Paris quest.
With both Patels bringing their A-game, India is ready to cheer them on as they aim to make history once again.
