Tokyo Paralympics 2020: Paddler Bhavina Patel defeats defending champion Serbia’s Rankovic, storms into semis

India’s para table tennis player Bhavinaben Hasmukhbhai Patel stormed into the semi-final by defeating World Number 2 Serbia’s Borislava Peric-Rankovic 3-0 in the quarter-finals of the women’s singles — Class 4 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium — Table 5 on Friday.

Bhavina Patel overwhelmed the defending champion Borislava Peric-Rankovic in straight sets by 11-5, 11-6, 11-7 in just 18 minutes.

The Indian got off to a good start as she took the first game 11-5 in just 5 mins. She continued her surge in the second set and clinched it by 11-6.

1st Indian to secure a #ParaTableTennis medal Lost her opening match and then won 3 in a row. In her quarter final match, she trailed just once.

Take a bow, @BhavinaPatel6 

Stay tuned for her semi-final tomorrow! #Paralympics #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/1gyRX7cHOj

— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) August 27, 2021

Riding on that brilliant momentum, Bhavina again faced no resistance from the Serbian and sealed the match by an 11-7 victory in the third set. 

Earlier on Friday, Bhavina qualified for the quarter-finals of the Tokyo Paralympics after a scintillating 3-0 win over Joyce de Oliviera of Brazil. 

Bhavina defeated Joyce in three straight sets 3-0 (12-10, 13-11, 11-6) to clinch the game and move into the next round.