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The largest table tennis team to represent Australia at a Paralympic Games since 1968 has been putting the finishing touches on its bid to improve on its remarkable Tokyo performance.
Two gold and four silver medals is by far Australia’s best result at a Games and the eight returning athletes are confident and optimistic in the final stretch before competition.
Four debutants have joined them, eager to make their mark on the Paralympic stage, and for head coach Alois Rosario, it has made for an exciting dynamic within the team.
“The quality of our team is out of sight,” he said.
“We have players that are here for their first Paralympics and we have players here for their eighth and the knowledge sharing between the team has been fantastic.”
One of those who generously shares her extensive experience is Australian Paralympic Team co-captain in Tokyo, Danni Di Toro (class 4).
The 49-year-old, who made the switch from wheelchair tennis after London 2012, is competing at her eighth Games and is the most capped Australian Paralympian in Paris.
“Just watching the team build has been really wonderful,” Di Toro said. “Every time they really show up, they find another layer and another level to reach when they come to environments like this.
“I get a front row seat to that and it feels very special, because it’s amazing… when you’re actually right there seeing that stuff happen in front of you, that’s so exciting.”
Australia is also boosted by Lina Lei, a five-time Paralympian and the current top ranked player in class 9. Lei is looking to defend her Tokyo singles gold and add to her already impressive medal haul that includes five gold for China, won between 2004 and 2016 before her move to Australia.
Qian Yang, who also represented China in 2012 and 2016, is also looking to defend her Tokyo singles gold medal won for Australia.
In the men’s, Victorians Trevor Hirth (class 6) and Nathan Pellissier (class 8) are back for their second Paralympic Games, while China-turned-Australia representative Lin Ma (class 9), and South Australian Samuel von Einem (class 11) are looking to go one better on their silver singles medals from Tokyo.
The 10 days of competition will be centred on the South Paris Arena, a venue that is very familiar to Melissa Tapper (class 10), having already competed there at the Olympic Games earlier this month.
The 34-year-old has put on Paralympic green and gold on four occasions and is the only Australian to have competed in the Olympic-Paralympic double, doing so in London, Rio and Tokyo.
Chris Addis (class 4), Jessy Chen (class 3), Jimmy Huo (class 5) and Hayley Sands (class 2) are making their Paralympic debuts.
The table tennis competition starts on the morning of Day 1, August 29.
Watch the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games on the 9Network and 9Now live and free, and on Stan Sport from August 28 to September 8.
By: Laurie Lawira, Paralympics Australia
Published: 27 August 2024
