A year on: remembering the Golden Moments of Paris 2024 Para table Tennis
One year ago today, south Paris arena 4 witnessed an extraordinary day of Paralympic para table tennis that rewrote history books and delivered some of the most emotionally charged moments of Paris 2024. Gold medal matches unfolded, each telling a unique story of dominance, resilience, and breakthrough achievement.
China’s Feng Panfeng achieved sporting immortality, claiming his tenth Paralympic gold medal with a commanding 3-0 victory over Germany’s Thomas Schmidberger in the Class 3 Men’s Singles final. more remarkably,it marked his fifth consecutive Paralympic title in the event – a feat of sustained excellence rarely seen in elite sport.
“I didn’t think that I could get my 10th Paralympic gold medal,” Feng reflected afterwards. “Ten gold medals is also my goal. I will continue to improve and add more new things in my technical skill, so that my opponents can’t understand.”
The final represented the 21st career meeting between Feng and Schmidberger, a rivalry spanning 17 years since 2007. Whilst Schmidberger had been one of the few players capable of challenging Feng – delivering his last international defeat back in 2018 – the Chinese master had remained unbeaten in singles competition for six years leading into Paris.
[Image of Feng Panfeng celebrating his gold medal]
in perhaps the most dramatic match of the day, Netherlands’ Kelly van Zon produced one of the great Paralympic comebacks to secure her fourth consecutive Class 7 Women’s Singles gold medal. Trailing 0-2 against Turkey’s Kubra Korkut – who had defeated van Zon in their previous two encounters at World and European Championships – the Dutch champion dug deep to win 3-2 (7-11, 3-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-7).
“I was so far behind. I don’t know what happened. All my balls went over the table,” van Zon admitted. “I tried to control everything, and it didn’t work. The plan I had in mind didn’t work. I tried to change it round. I started to beleive and the balls went a little bit more on the table. I could feel the crowd behind me.”
[Image of Kelly van Zon in action during her gold medal match]
Kim Gi Tae Claims Paralympic Gold in Thrilling Para Table Tennis Competition
The Paralympic Games witnessed a momentous day on September 5, 2024, as Korea Republic’s Kim Gi Tae secured his long-awaited Paralympic dream, defeating Chinese Taipei’s Chen Po Yen to win the gold medal in the Class 11 men’s Singles event. This victory marked a culmination of dedication for Kim, who was competing in his third Paralympic Games. The match was characterized by intense rallies, including a remarkable 24-stroke exchange that highlighted the high level of skill on display.
“I am very happy. This medal is because I stayed strong,” Kim stated after his win. “I think that Chen is a better player than me, but he got a bit too nervous. it was a good match.”
September 5, 2024, proved to be a defining day for Paralympic para table tennis, featuring multiple inspiring performances. Alongside Kim’s triumph, the day saw Feng achieve a historic tenth gold medal, wada secure a breakthrough victory, and van Zon mount a stunning comeback. These achievements collectively showcased the spirit and excellence of Paralympic sport.
This day of competition underscored the dedication and skill of para table tennis athletes from around the globe. https://www.ittf.com/