Chinese-Born Aussie Duo Dominates Table Tennis at Tokyo Paralympics
Published: September 2, 2021 | Source: SportAccord
In a remarkable turn of events, Yang Qian and Lei Lina, two Chinese-born athletes who switched allegiances to Australia after the Rio 2016 Olympics, captured gold medals in table tennis at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
Yang, who previously won team gold for China at the London 2012 Games, claimed victory in the C10 singles category with a 13-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-9 triumph over Brazil’s Bruna Costa Alexandre. This marked Yang’s fifth Paralympic medal in her illustrious career.
Teammate Lei, a seasoned veteran with five Paralympic titles dating back to Athens 2004, reclaimed the C9 singles crown she had lost at Rio 2016. After a hard-fought five-game battle, Lei emerged victorious over China’s Xiong Guiyan, winning 6-11, 11-5, 11-5, 9-11, 11-5.
“The Chinese-born duo’s decision to represent Australia has undoubtedly paid dividends, with the nation securing two gold medals in table tennis on a historic day at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.”
Other notable performances included:
- Ukraine’s Maryna Lytovchenko, who claimed her first Paralympic title in the women’s singles C6 event.
- South Korea’s Joo Young-dae, who upgraded from silver to gold in the men’s singles C1 final.
With the table tennis competitions at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics now concluded, the remarkable achievements of these athletes, driven by their passion for the sport, have captivated audiences worldwide.
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