Tokyo Paralympics Day 1, 25th August: Sonalben and Bhavina Patel lose their first match - LIVE Updates, blog
DID YOU KNOW?
Bhavinaben Patel had become the first Indian paddler to qualify for the Paralympics during the 2016 Rio Games. However, she could travel and compete in Rio due to some paperwork issues by the national federation.
Bhavinaben Patel up next!
The World number 8 in Class 4, Bhavinaben Patel will be up next in action at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. She will be up against two time Paralympics Champion Zhou Ying of China.
The match is expected to commence at 8:50 am IST. Stay tuned for all the LIVE updates.
Read on to get details of the nail-biter!
Missing out on the win by a whisker, Sonal kept absolutely toe-to-toe against Qian and displayed her hunger for winning!
Read the match report of the opener for Para Table Tennis here!
Hearty start to the day for Indian paralympians with Sonalben!
Sonalben may have lost her opening Group match but she showed the world the mettle she is made of and where her true passion lies as she looked unfazed for most part of the game against the veteran paddler from China!
You go, Sonal!
Li Qian wins the match despite a powerful effort from Sonalben!
Sonalben, in her debut match, was full of grit and determination, giving in her all but her 2-time Paralympic medallist opponent from China, Li Qian managed to get the better of her at the very last minute to win, 3-2!
The final score: 11-9, 3-11, 17-15, 7-11, 4-11.
Very narrow miss by Sonal!
Li Qian uses her experience and gets the better of Sonal to clinch the final game, 4-11!
Rallies are getting tense now with both players looking full of nerves as we are down to the last few crucial points here!
Sonal gives it her all now!
Sonalben is putting in every effort to stave off the attack from the Li Qian side but the Chinese is being simply relentless now as she races ahead to a 3-7 lead!
Now or never for Sonal!
Sonal lags behind on the board and is looking desperate for a comeback!
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