No one is going to be prouder than the International Table Tennis Federation, when they have two ace paralympians Table Tennis players competing at the Olympic Games. And it says a lot about the countries from the two Table Tennis Players belong to.
Natalia Partyka who hails from Poland and Melissa Tapper who belongs to Australia have shown the world of sport that if you’re at it, anything is possible.
Speaking about this, the Polish sensation, said, “I will play just in team event in Rio, but anyway I am very proud and happy that I will compete at the Olympic Games for a third consecutive time.”
The polish Table Tennis player who narrowly missed her singles berth at the Rio 2016 Games at the qualifier event, picked her Olympic berth wholeheartedly in the team competitions. The 1989 born class 10 player has three Paralympic Golds under her name and she’s done the flag-bearer of the Paralympic Games at the Olympics in the past as well, but this time she’s also joined by the Australian Tapper; who’s the first ever Australian to participate in both Olympics and Paralympics.
“I hope that this shows all disabled athletes that impossible is nothing,”she further added.
Melissa Tapper is a Melbourne-based current Paralympic and Commonwealth Games medalist in Table Tennis, has sent cheers at the faces in Australia by becoming the first athlete to participate in both the Olympics and Paralympics in the same year.
Speaking about the achievement, she said,” I think that it’s awesome that the Paralympic athletes are breaking down barriers and getting to participate in the Olympics.”
“Playing alongside Natalia is an honor, but I think the biggest win is for our sport,”she concluded with.
Tapper, who’ll be representing Australia in both team and singles events during Rio Olympics and Paralympics, is very excited after writing the history of Olympic Games along with Partyka.
The ITTF President Thomas Weikert, also excited after unfolding of this great news, spoke,”The ITTF is proud and excited to have a historic two Para players qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Natalia made history in Beijing by becoming the first ever Para table tennis Olympian and now she will be joined by Melissa Tapper in Rio.”
Speaking further, he said, “Both these players are inspirations to all para athletes as they show that disability is no barrier to success. We wish them the best of luck in Rio!”
Table Tennis event will take place during August 6-17, 2016 at RioCentro Pavilion 3.