Bhavina Patel was introduced to table tennis at age 12 and instantly fell in love with the sport.
Diagnosed with polio at just one year old, Bhavina lost mobility below her waist. Undeterred, she never let it come in the way of her ambitions.
The turning point in her life came when she moved to Blind People's Association (BPA) in Ahmedabad to learn computers, where she also discovered table tennis.
In her first year playing the sport, she surprised everyone by winning a bronze medal!
At Tokyo 2020, she created history by becoming the first Indian table tennis player to win a medal in the Paralympics in the singles class 4 event.
Dominating both national and international competitions, Bhavina (37) now sets her sights on gold at the Paris Paralympics.
Dominating both national and international competitions, Bhavina (37) now sets her sights on gold at the Paris Paralympics.
She has never let disability define her life, on or off the court. Her journey has also been supported by her parents, who moved from Mehsana to Ahmedabad for her training, and her husband, who stands by her side.
Since 2008, Bhavina’s coach, Lalan Doshi, has been guiding her, helping her excel in the sport.
“This sport has given me immense confidence and self-esteem. My life has not been the same since I took up this sport,” she reflected.
What sets Bhavina apart is her incredible mental strength. “You need to train your mind to be victorious. Then everything falls into place,” she said.
“Whether you are disabled or not, I would give the same advice: Never ever underestimate yourself. Each one has a unique talent, which can be brought out and honed,” she added.