Para Olympics: India assured of the first medal in Women's Table Tennis

Bhavinaben Patel on Friday scripted history by becoming the first Indian table tennis player to secure a medal in the Paralympics after she entered the semi-finals with a stunning straight-game win over the Rio 2016 Paralympics champion Borislava Peric-Rankovic of Serbia in the women's singles Class 4 event.

The 34-year-old player beat her Serbian opponent 11-5, 11-6, 11-7 in a quarterfinal match that lasted 18 minutes. She will take on Zhang Miao of China in the semi-finals on Saturday, but she is guaranteed at least a bronze. She beat Joyce de Oliveira of Brazil 12-10, 13-11, 11-6 in Round of 16 to become the first Indian table tennis player to reach the quarterfinals at the Paralympics.

I could win my semifinal match due to the support of the people of India. Please keep supporting me so that I can win my semifinal match, Bhavinaben Patel said after the quarterfinal match. Paralympic Committee president Deepa Malik said It is sure that we can see a medal from her. Tomorrow morning's match (semifinal) is a huge decider what colour of the medal she will win.

It is also notable that she entered the knockout round after winning a match and losing the other group game.