Gujarat's para-athletes continue to win medals at international tournaments. Bhavina Patel, a para table tennis player, won the ITTF Fa40 Egypt Para Open 2022 singles title in Ismailia in the classes 4-5 category, her first title since finishing second in the Tokyo Paralympics in July-August last year. Sonal Patel, her doubles partner, was also named singles champion in the classes 2-3 category.
When there are fewer entries, classes are consolidated. According to the International Paralympic Committee's website, participants in Class 4 have good seated balance and completely functional arms and hands, although their handicap may be caused by a lower spinal-cord lesion or cerebral palsy.
Bhavina defeated Iraq's Rusual Al Waeli in the top match, winning 11-6, 13-11, 13-11 at the El Qanah Stadium Hall 1 in the north African country. She only dropped one game, in the semi-finals, on her way to becoming champion.
After gaining a bye in the quarterfinals, she overcame Egypt's Faiza Mahmoud in the semis, winning 11-9, 11-4, 10-12, 11-8 to advance to the final.
Bhavina said after the victory, “Back to competitive tournaments after the Paralympics. It’s been a long wait but I have been working very hard.”
She further said, “I was preparing well just like I did with the Paralympics. Very happy to have won the gold medal in the singles event but the work is not all done yet. Still have the women’s doubles and mixed doubles to play and I’m equally focused on the same.”
The tournament is significant, according to the 35-year-old. “It’s a very important tournament keeping in mind the competitions coming up and good to keep momentum going,” she added.
In the women's singles classes 2-3, Sonal also stamped her authority. She beat Iraq's Hadeel Al Waeli 11-7, 11-7, 11-2 in the final. She had dominated Kuwait's Ali Malak in the semi-finals, winning 11-5, 11-4, 11-2.
The world number 21 had previously topped Group 1 with wins over Al Waeli (11-4, 11-6, 11-6) and Egypt's Hala Azzam (11-1, 11-2, 11-0).
Usha Rathod, Ramesh Chaudhary, and Jashavant Chaudhary, three additional para paddlers from Gujarat, were unable to maintain their pace, falling in the group round and failing to advance to the knockout phase.
