Tokyo Paralympics: Bhavinaben Patel, Nishad Kumar win silver, Vinod waits

Bhavinaben Patel on Sunday became only the second Indian woman to win a medal at the Paralympics after she signed off with a silver following a 0-3 loss to world No. 1 Chinese paddler Ying Zhou in the women’s singles table tennis class 4 final in Tokyo.

The 34-year-old Patel’s impressive run at the Games ended with a 7-11, 5-11, 6-11 loss to Zhou, a two-time gold medallist, in the women’s singles summit clash which lasted 19 minutes.

Later, high jumper Nishad Kumar clinched a silver medal with an Asian record before discus thrower Vinod Kumar fetched a bronze which was put on hold after a protest over his disability classification.

Deepa Malik was the first Indian woman to win a medal in the Paralympic Games when she had claimed a silver in shot put in Rio five years back. “I’m extremely delighted to win a medal but also a bit disappointed as well. I got a bit nervous,” Patel was quoted as saying by International Paralympic Committee. Patel became the first Indian to win a Paralympic medal in table tennis.

Blessing in disguise

Patel, a wheelchair player, had also suffered a loss to Zhou, one of the most decorated para-paddlers of China, in her first group-stage match earlier in the week. “I can only assure you that next time I meet her you will see a different me. This medal will go a long way and I can assure you that,” she said.

Patel had missed out of the Rio Olympics five years back due to some issues with her documents but now that she has claimed a medal, she feels it was a blessing in disguise. “Had that not happened, probably I would not have been in Tokyo with a medal. I want to tell all the women out there trying to break away from the stereotypes to believe in themselves and just go for it,” she said.

Nishad excels

The 21-year-old Nishad cleared 2.06m to win the silver in T47 class before 41-year-old BSF man Vinod produced a best throw of 19.91m to clinch a bronze.

Nishad, whose right hand got cut by a grass-cutting machine at his family’s farm when he was an eight-year-old boy, cleared the same height of 2.06m with American Dallas Wise who was also awarded a silver. Another American, Roderick Townsend, won the gold with a world record jump of 2.15m.

Medal on hold

Vinod’s classification in F52, which is for athletes with impaired muscle power, restricted range of movement, limb deficiency or leg length difference, was done on August 22 by the organisers.

“Results of discus throw F52 are currently under review due to classification observation in competition. The victory ceremony has been postponed to the evening session of August 30,” read a statement from the Games organisers.