VASCO
Paralympics table tennis silver medallist Bhavina Patel arrived in Goa on Friday and will participate in an event organised by the Disability Rights Association of Goa (DRAG) where she will guide Goan players.
Patel, who won India’s first-ever table tennis medal at Tokyo Paralympics, is attending DRAG’s anniversary programme in Panaji on Saturday. Patel was welcomed upon her arrival at the Dabolim airport by DRAG president Avelino De Sa, special educator Liby Mendonca and others.
Speaking to reporters at the airport, Patel said she was looking forward to interacting with Goan table tennis players. "It is my first time here and I am happy and excited to meet some table tennis players in Goa through the table tennis association of Goa as well," said Patel.
De Sa said that Patel had been invited by them as a special guest for the 18th-anniversary programme of DRAG. "She won a silver medal for table tennis at the Paralympics in Tokyo and she is going to interact with our Goan table tennis players. We have around 20 to 25 para table tennis players in Goa who are interested in learning from her. She will share all her experiences of over 12 years with them," said De Sa.
Mendonca said that it was a privilege for para table tennis players in Goa to have Patel for an interaction during the anniversary function. "She is a silver medallist in Paralympics and she will impress upon all our para table tennis players to play in the future. We are happy to have her as our special guest for the anniversary function," said Mendonca.
