Bhavina Patel from Gujarat is No. 1 in the Wheelchair Women’s Singles Class 4 in the ITTF World Para Rankings. |
Bhavina Patel has been a trailblazer of sorts ever since she won the historic silver medal in the Class 4 table tennis event at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, which was rescheduled to 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Currently ranked No. 1 in the Wheelchair Women’s Singles Class 4 in the ITTF World Para Rankings. the para athlete spoke exclusively to The Free Press Journal.
Excerpts..
Q: Bhavina, How much has life changed post your historic medal winning performance at the Tokyo Paralympics?..
A: lots has changed since the medal. Para table tennis has gotten a lot of attention and there has been a lot of growth that the sport has seen. As for me it’s given me a big platform to give back to the sport that has given me so much.
Q: You are the World No 1 in your Para table tennis C4 category at the moment. What has been the ingredients to your success at the highest level as a para athlete?..
A: Discipline. Focus. Dedication. There is no substitute for hard work and there is not much that you can’t achieve with utmost dedication.
Q: Tell us about your journey as a para athlete. How did it all begin for you and the challenges that you conquered eventually?..
A: It’s been a rough journey. It wasn’t easy to begin with. There wasn’t much awareness or specialised training. We didn’t have much knowledge there wasn’t much you could rely on. Not giving up and facing everything thrown at you front on has been my mantra.
Q: How do you feel about the support para athletes are getting these days?.. Your thoughts.
A: It’s lovely to see the incredible support and the investment going into para sports. The results are a consequence of this support and I’m sure it’s only going to get better in the days to come.
Q: You are an inspiration to so many budding para athletes. What message do you have for them?
A: My message to them is to never give up. Follow your dreams and do everything to the best of your abilities.
Q: What are your upcoming tournaments?..
A: My upcoming tournaments are ITTF World Para Challenger Lasko, Slovenia and ITTF World Para Elite Lasko, Slovenia
Q: Tell us a bit about your family and their role in your journey
A: My family has been a big support. They’ve been firmly with me through all the ups and downs. My biggest cheerleaders when I win and biggest motivators when I lose.
Q: What sort of fitness and training routine do you have and how do you prepare for major tournaments?..
A: I do a lot of physio sessions to keep my body active and flexible. It’s important for me to avoid stiffness. Most exercises and training routines are around muscle strengthening. For every major tournament I study the performances of my opponents well. I prepare my game plan accordingly.
Q: What are your hobbies and passion to unwind while not competing?..
A: I really enjoying singing cooking and shopping. They are my usual go to activities when I’m not competing or need a bit of relaxing.
Q: Do you have a role model or inspiration in your life?.. Someone you look upto.
A: My role models are my father and my husband. They’ve stood by me through everything and their support really inspires me and is a big example of how a proper support system should be
