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Gujarat team wins four medals at Para TT National Championship

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Press Trust of India Ahmedabad
Last Updated : Jan 25 2013 | 5:33 AM IST

The state won two gold, a silver and a bronze in the wheel chairs men's and women's category.

In the women's wheel chair category (sitting class), it was an all-Gujarat final with Bhavina Patel (Class 4 disability) winning the gold, outclassing her colleague Sonal Patel 2-1 (Class 1-2 disability).

While Jaswant Chaudhary (Class 4 disability) bagged the yellow medal beating his Delhi counterpart with the same scoreline. Usha Rathore (Class 4 disability) bagged a bronze.

Bhavina, who also has 3 international silver medals to her name, told PTI over phone, "This time, the competition was tougher. There were more participants from across the country, which makes this victory even more special."

"It is heartening to see players with special needs taking to table tennis rather than cricket, which is the norm in the country," Bhavina said.

Her inspiration was her friends, whom she first saw playing Table Tennis, urging her to take the racquet.

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"Thereafter, Blind People's Association, an NGO that works for people with special needs here, took over. They provided us immense support. Our coaches have been a huge support in our endeavours," the 25-year-old from Mehsana, a neighbouring district, said.

Bhavina had also won a silver medal in Bangkok in Thailand Open Championship in 2011 and two silver medals at IWAS World Games in Bangalore in 2009.

Coach Lalan Doshi was all praise for the participants. Doshi said, "The best part of their success is their commitment and the rigorous training schedule they follow. They train intensely for three hours in the morning and evening."

"Also, these players are quick learners. Unlike some of the normal players whom I have coached, they need to be told only once," said, Doshi, himself a national table tennis champion.

"We are only a medium. They have to go out and play," added Doshi, heaping praise on Bhavina who had defeated the invincible Chinese in the semifinal of an international event before falling at the last hurdle to a Korean player.

Doshi said that upper body exercises, specially wrist movements, are crucial for wheel chair table tennis players. He cautions wannabe players of back spasm, which is a common phenomenon among such players.

About 155 participants from across the country participated in the National Championship, organised by Paralympics Table Tennis Federation of India under the aegis of Paralympics Committee of India.

There are two categories in the Para Table Tennis Championship (Class 1-5 and Class 6-10). Class 1-5 (sitting) are for those in wheelchairs and class 6-10 (standing) for those who have disabilities that allow them to play standing.

  

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First Published: Oct 19 2012 | 11:05 PM IST

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