In a dramatic showdown at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Netherlands’ Kelly van Zon secured her fourth consecutive gold medal in the Class 7 women’s singles, defeating Turkey’s Kubra Korkut in a gripping 3-2 (7-11, 3-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-7) final. The victory cements van Zon’s legacy in Para table tennis, marking her fourth straight Paralympic title and her fifth appearance at the Games.
van Zon overcame a two-game deficit in the final to claim victory in an extraordinary comeback. Turkey’s Kubra Korkut, the current World and European Champion, started strong, winning the first two games convincingly. Korkut, who had defeated van Zon in their last two encounters at the World and European Championships, looked poised to continue her momentum. However, van Zon, showing her experience, launched a successful comeback and won the next three games to secure her gold medal.
“I was so far behind. I don’t know what happened. All my balls went over the table. I tried to control everything, and it didn’t work. The plan I had in mind didn’t work. I tried to change it round. I started to believe and the balls went a little bit more on the table. I could feel the crowd behind me. I am extremely happy. I lost my European title against her, I lost my world title against her, she is a great player. This time I still won in the end. I had to dig so deep.”
The rivalry between van Zon and Korkut has been a long one. The two have faced off 37 times since their first meeting in 2008, with van Zon now holding 33 victories. This final was a rematch of the Rio 2016 Paralympic final, where van Zon also triumphed. Despite Korkut’s recent successes on the global stage, van Zon reclaimed her dominance when it mattered most.
This gold medal adds to van Zon’s illustrious career, which includes Paralympic victories in London 2012, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020, making her the undisputed queen of Class 7 women’s singles. Her Paris 2024 triumph is a testament to her resilience and ability to adapt under pressure, especially against a formidable opponent like Korkut.
In addition to her on-court achievements, van Zon plays a vital role off the table as well. She is a member of the ITTF Athlete’s Commission, one of two elected Para-athletes, advocating the voice of athletess within the sport.
As the crowd at the Paris 2024 Paralympics celebrated van Zon’s remarkable comeback, her victory not only added another chapter to her decorated career but also cements her place in the history of Paralympic table tennis.
