China's Zhao Shuai and Mao Jingdian are set to showcase their exceptional skills in the inaugural mixed doubles table tennis event at the upcoming Paris Paralympics.
Both athletes bring a wealth of experience to the competition, each having secured four Paralympic gold medals to date. Their partnership in mixed doubles has already proven successful, highlighted by their gold medal victory at the Thailand Open held in July.
At 29 years old, Zhao Shuai is not only a formidable competitor in singles and doubles but also had the honor of being one of the eight flag-bearers during the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games.
The duo has been training together for about a year, acknowledging the significant challenges and pressure that lie ahead in Paris. Both athletes have expressed the need to increase their work rate to stay ahead of strong opponents from Ukraine, France, and other nations.
\"We have some strong opponents including Ukraine and France and a lot of big challenges are ahead of us. There are ups and downs in our training and we need to try our best to make adjustments and fully show our ability,\" Zhao commented.
Mao Jingdian added, \"He practiced so hard and after I saw him training, I found that I worked not hard enough.\" Their dedication and teamwork are key as they aim for another gold medal at the Paris Paralympics.
Reference(s):
Zhao/Mao to compete in first para-table tennis mixed doubles in Paris
cgtn.com
