Tokyo Paralympics: table tennis bronze for Wong Ting-ting as Elena Prokofeva proves too much for teen
- Russia’s veteran world No 1 comes back to win semi-final against debutant who wins Hong Kong’s first medal at Tokyo 2020
- The 17-year-old takes first game off 50-year-old in Tokyo but misses out on gold medal match as Carrie Lam leads congratulations
The 17-year-old had guaranteed herself at least bronze – and Hong Kong’s first medal of the Tokyo Games – with a place in the semi-final, where victory would see her into the gold medal match.
Wong, the world No 3, looked keen as she took the match to the Russian Paralympic Committee representative winning the first game 11-9.
Prokofeva was not only unbeaten in Tokyo going into the semi-final but she had not lost a single game in her three group matches.
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If the opening game loss fazed the Russian then she did not show it.
The 50-year-old responded immediately by winning the next game 11-5 to level the match score before taking the lead with an 11-6 game win.
Prokofeva did not look back as she quickly established a lead in the fourth game and left Wong with too much to do to tie the match up.
Wong tried to do just that but in the end Prokofeva triumphed 11-8 to win the match 3-1 and with it a place in the gold medal match.
“My original objective was to qualify for the knockout rounds, so to get the bronze has already exceeded all expectations. I’m very happy, very happy,” Wong said, thanking her coach Chan Hui who had to rush between tables in the preliminaries as both his athletes competed simultaneously.
“It was the first time we fielded a youth player at the Paralympics and she got a medal, so to see her standing atop the podium is both happy and inspiring for the team. The competition was very difficult for me because there were times I wasn’t there to coach and she had to rely on herself and remember the things we talked about,” coach Chan said.
“There were some erratic moments, but also many good parts, like how she learned to change strategies quickly, and she could handle the pressure and play games point-by-point. I hope she can have even more belief and continue to work on her table tennis to reach more goals in future.”
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Wong had won her two opening matches in the group stage before defeat in Friday’s dead rubber against Japan’s Kanami Furukawa. Victory in that would have ensured she avoided Prokofeva in the semi-final.
Prokofeva now moves on to face France’s Lea Ferney in the gold medal match on Saturday afternoon. Wong beat Ferney in her opening match.
Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor congratulated Wong on winning her first medal and the delegation’s first at these Paralympics.
“Wong Ting-ting made her debut at the Paralympic Games marvellously and outperformed veteran players, winning the first medal for Hong Kong at the Games. We are delighted and thrilled. Given her strong will and exceptional talent, I believe that she will reach new heights of sporting glory,” Lam said in a statement.
“In addition to Wong, other Hong Kong athletes also performed at their best in various competitions at the Paralympics Games in the past few days, which is laudable. Hong Kong people and I will continue to support Hong Kong athletes by watching TV broadcasts.”
“As a public broadcaster, RTHK shoulders the public goals and missions. I commend RTHK‘s efforts to broadcast the Paralympic Games, allowing more members of the public to cheer for Hong Kong athletes, sustaining the atmosphere of supporting sports development in society and enhancing care for athletes with disabilities in the community,” Lam added.
Secretary for Home Affairs Caspar Tsui Ying-wai also praised the Hong Kong table tennis player.
“We are proud of Wong Ting-ting, who strives to maintain high standards of excellence and achieves excellent result with her mastery of the sport,” Tsui said. “I would like to thank the coaches, staff and family for their support to the athlete.”
