Aichi-Nagoya, 20 October (H.S.): Indian para-table tennis player Bhavina Patel secured the bronze medal at the 2026 Asian Para Games after losing her women’s singles Class 4-5 semifinal to China’s Zhang Bian. Meanwhile, India’s mixed doubles pair of Pramod Bhagat and Manisha Ramadass advanced to the semifinals in para-badminton, assuring the country another medal.

Bhavina was defeated 0-3 by Zhang Bian in the semifinal, losing 7-11, 11-5, 11-7. The defeat ended her hopes of reaching the final, but she secured the bronze medal for her performance in the competition.

A silver medallist at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, Bhavina is one of India’s leading para-table tennis players. She made history in Tokyo by winning India’s first-ever Paralympic medal in table tennis.

Hailing from Mehsana in Gujarat, Bhavina demonstrated her talent in 2009 by winning a gold medal at the National Para Table Tennis Championships held in Bengaluru. She subsequently achieved several milestones on the international stage. At the 2018 Asian Para Games, she won silver in women’s doubles, followed by a bronze medal in women’s singles at the 2022 Asian Para Games. She also claimed the women’s singles gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Meanwhile, India’s para-badminton mixed doubles pair of Pramod Bhagat and Manisha Ramadass kept the country’s medal hopes alive with an impressive performance. In the SL3-SU5 quarterfinal, the Indian duo defeated Thailand’s Chanida Srinavakul and Siripong Teamarrom in straight games, 21-15, 21-14. The match lasted 25 minutes.

With the victory, Bhagat and Ramadass advanced to the semifinals, securing another medal for India. The pair will now aim to reach the final and improve the colour of their medal.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar