My Compelling Story

Sonalben Patel is an Indian para-athlete, who plays table tennis. She made headlines for winning bronze medal in the table tennis womens singles event at the 2022 Commonwealth Games which were held in Birmingham, the United Kingdom.According to Sonalben Patel, when she was just six months old, she was affected by polio in both her legs and her right hand as a result of which she was left with a 90% disability.While giving an interview, Sonalben Patel claimed that she wanted to become a teacher but her dreams of becoming a teacher remained unfulfilled as she was rejected because of her disabilities. She said, I was rejected and was denied to become a teacher, all because of my handicap-ness, which was cited as the reason for my rejection..After getting rejected, Sonalben Patel enrolled in the Blind Peoples Association (BPA) and pursued a course in ITI. There, after being motivated by the director of the institute, Tejalben Lakhia, she took up table tennis and began practising for hours at a stretch. In an interview, she said, I would gaze for hours at those playing table tennis, I now laugh that it was the superintendent of the ITI department, Tejalben Lakhia who had motivated me to play and pursue a career in table tennis. After which I started practising for hours at once..Throughout her career, since 2008, Sonalben Patel has participated in several national and international-level competitions. As of August 2022, she has won more than three gold medals, four silver medals, and six bronze medals.According to Sonalben Patel, she initially had taken up table tennis only as a hobby and had no intentions of pursuing a career in it. She claims her husband motivated her to pursue a professional career in table tennis. In an interview, she said, I was only planning to pursue table tennis as a hobby. But it was my husband who mentored me, taught me more about the sport, and motivated me enough to change my mind. After which I took up the sport and pursued it professionally..In 2021, Sonalben Patel represented India at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games. There, she was defeated by a South Korean table tennis player named Lee Mi-gyu. In an interview, she said, I could not win a medal in the Olympics. But I am proud to have represented my country there. It is a big deal to be selected for the Olympics. Sonalben Patel during her match at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.In 2022, Sonalben Patel participated in and won two gold medals and a bronze medal at the Fa40 Egypt Para Open.In 2022, Sonalben Patel participated in the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where she defeated the United Kingdoms table tennis player named Sue Bailey by a margin of 3-0 and won bronze medal in the womens singles event. While giving an interview, Sonalben said, I am very happy as it is my first medal in singles at the Commonwealth Games. I am very happy. I want to dedicate this medal to my husband, family, coach and all of the countrymen. I had also not won a medal at Tokyo Paralympics 2020 and this stayed on my mind. When I was selected for the CWG, I wanted to win a medal. Sonalben Patel during her match at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.