Bhavina Patel sets sights on Para Asian Games, World Table Tennis Championships after achieving No. 1 ranking
Bhavina Patel has represented India in para table tennis at the highest level. She is a Paralympic silver medallist, a Commonwealth Games gold medallist and an Asian Games bronze medallist.
What she achieved over the last two days in Chennai may not stand even close to those feats but it does provide a boost at the beginning of a busy year.
The 39-year-old Bhavina took down Kajal Makavana 3-0 (11-2, 11-4, 11-6) to win the gold medal in the women’s singles class 4-5 category at the 3rd National Para Table Tennis Ranking Tournament at IIT Madras on Sunday.
It was the first event for Bhavina after a serious injury. “I had sustained a meniscus tear in my left knee two days before last year’s Asian Championships in October,” she told Sportstar.
After wrapping up an incredible 2025 season in November, Bhavina had to undergo surgery. After two months of recovery and rehabilitation, the paddler is back. Last year, she clinched 13 medals, including six gold, and also created history by reaching the summit of the ITTF Rankings.
Reflecting on the last season, she said, “I reached the quarterfinals of the Paris Paralympics in 2024, but I didn’t win a medal. So, for 2025, I set a new goal for myself—to be World No. 1. I wanted to play more tournaments. I wanted more knowledge. I wanted more clarity in my hands. I wanted to be able to send the ball wherever I wanted. I wanted to be able to move my hand wherever my mind intended to send the ball. I am able to do that now.”
For 2026, Bhavina has already planned her schedule. The season features two big events in Para Asian Games (October 18-24 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan) and the World Para Table Tennis Championships (November 13-19 in Pattaya, Thailand).
“This year, I hope to play 12 tournaments. I want to try more because I want to maintain my ranking. I’m focusing on singles and mixed doubles,” she said.
“If the Commonwealth Games had para table tennis, there would have been a lot of medals for India. But we should not think about the things that are not happening. Asian Para Games and the World Championships are very important tournaments for us. The World Championships are similar to the Paralympics. All the top players from all over the world participate in it. So, yes, we are ready for a fight.”
Bhavina, who put India on the world map of para table tennis, also shared her thoughts on the sport’s popularity, the available infrastructure and accessibility for para athletes.
Around 220 players from 19 States came to Chennai to participate in the ranking tournament, and while the paddler from Gujarat appreciated the efforts of the Tamil Nadu Table Tennis Association and Rotary Club of Madras Chenna Patna in organising the event, she felt there is scope for improvement.
“There are several things which were announced for the first time,” Bhavina said.
“Winners in the wheelchair category will receive wheelchairs along with medals, and there are attractive cash prizes for winners across all classes, among several other incentives. But accessibility can still be improved further,” she added.
Published on Jan 25, 2026