Tokyo: India’s Bhavina Patel and Sonalben Patel were outclassed by Chinese Ying Zhou and Zhang Bian 2-11, 4-11, 2-11 in the women’s 4-5 class doubles quarterfinals at the Tokyo Paralympics on Tuesday.
In a game that lasted only 13 minutes, the Chinese duo got off to a great start, winning the first game 11-2. The Chinese Ying-Bian pair dominated the match and did not allow the Indians to recover.
India’s Patel sisters scored a few points in the second game, but the Chinese team was on fire winning the game. Ying and Bian clinched the match 3-0 after winning the third game riding on their confidence.
For the third time at the Paralympics, Bhavina lost to Zhou, who had earned a historic silver in the singles event on Sunday. In the singles final, the Chinese had also defeated her. With this silver medal, Bhavina had become the first Indian table tennis player to earn a Paralympic medal, and the second female athlete to do so after Deepa Malik.
