Paris 2024: Poland’s Partyka eyes fifth Para table tennis singles title

Natalia Partyka, a table tennis player from Poland, is one match away from winning her fifth gold medal in the WS10 singles category at the Paralympic Games. After starting her Paralympic career as an 11-year-old, Partyka has had a long and successful journey.

On Wednesday, she will face Australia’s Qian Yang in the final. Yang has previously defeated Partyka at the World Championships and in the semi-finals at Tokyo 2020.

Partyka had a tough road to the final. She won the first two sets of her semi-final match against Shiau Wen Tian from Chinese Taipei but then faced a strong comeback as Shiau won the next two sets. The match was tied at 8-8 in the final set before Partyka used her experience to win.

“I was in control at 2-0, but then I lost my rhythm,” Partyka said. “It was stressful, but I just focused on playing my game and keeping the ball on the table.”

To prepare for the final, Partyka has been practicing mindfulness and studying Yang’s recent matches. She’s excited to compete against Yang and hopes to win.

No matter what happens in the final, Partyka has already made a significant mark on Paralympic history. She recalled how Para table tennis has grown since her first gold medal in 2004, noting the sport is now more competitive than ever.

“I don’t remember much from Sydney 2000, but people say I played well,” Partyka said. “Para table tennis has improved a lot since then, and it’s great to play in front of enthusiastic crowds again.”

Partyka is looking forward to her final match and is excited to compete in front of a full house at the South Paris Arena.