So strong have been the Chinese in para table tennis thatBhavina Patel has always been told that beating them is impossible.
"But I have always believed that nothing isimpossible if you give it your best shot. And today I did it," Bhavinasaid on Saturday after beating China's Zhang Miao in the semifinals of thewomen's singles Class 4 section at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
Bhavina defeated Miao, the world No. 3 and 2016 RioParalympic Games silver medallist 3-2 (7-11, 11-7, 11-4, 9-11, 11-8) in a34-minute encounter to reach the final and assure India its first medal intable tennis at the Paralympic Games.
"It is the first time that an Indian player hadbeaten a Chinese opponent. It's a huge, huge achievement for me. Everyone usedto tell me that beating a Chinese player is impossible. But today I have provedthat nothing is impossible in the world. Everything is possible if you want todo it," said Bhavina after winning her semifinal match.
She thanked the people of the country, the ParalympicCommittee of India (PCI), the Sports Authority of India (SAI), her sponsorsOlympic Gold Quest (OGQ), Blind People's Association, Ahmedabad (where shelearned table tennis) and Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) for supportingher.
"It is because of their support that I could reachthis stage today. Thank you, everyone," she added.
"I have never considered myself disabled. Today Ihave proved that nothing is impossible," she said.
Bhavina, a government employee working for ESIC inAhmedabad, Gujarat, on Saturday became the first Indian table tennis player toreach the final at the Paralympic Games.
"If I maintain the same standard of play, I can winthe gold medal," she said, adding that she did not expect to reach thisstage when she started her journey in her first Paralympics.
"When I started, I never thought I would reach thisstage. I came here with the aim of giving my hundred per cent in every game.And that is what I have done so far. If you give your 100 per cent tosomething, then medals will come," Bhavina said in a video posted by theParalympic Committee of India on Twitter.
Asked about the final, Bhavina said she was mentallyready for the encounter with Zhou Ying of China, to whom she had lost in heropening match in Tokyo. "I am ready mentally for that match. I will givemy 100 per cent in that match too," said Bhavina.