Paralympics 2021: India's star paddlers Sonalben and Bhavina Patel go down fighting against top-ranked opponents in their respective round-robin matches

That is all from our side for this segment. Make sure you join us again again for Sonalben and Bhavina Patel's respective second-round matches tomorrow!

Keep following Sportskeeda for updates on the schedule and other live coverage from Paralympics 2021! It's goodbye for now, stay safe and keep cheering for the Indian athletes!

Here's what @ParalympicIndia President, @DeepaAthlete has to say about @sonup123 who played her debut #paratabletennis match at #Paralympics today

Let's cheer for her with #Cheer4India #Praise4Para @PMOIndia @ianuragthakur @NisithPramanik @IndiaSports @ddsportschannel pic.twitter.com/gvMVJPCAh4
— SAI Media (@Media_SAI) August 25, 2021

#Paratabletennis Update

🇮🇳's @BhavinaPatel6 put up a good fight against 🇨🇳's Y Zhou but goes down 0-3 in her first group match

Bhavina will play her next group match tomorrow

Let's continue to cheer for her with #Cheer4India #Praise4Para #Paralympics #Tokyo2020
— SAI Media (@Media_SAI) August 25, 2021

Indeed a thrilling match, neck to neck till the very last round. Great Game @sonup123, onwards to the next one, we are proud of you! 🏓🇮🇳 #Praise4Para #Paralympics #Tokyo2020 https://t.co/Z0rcW2IEeO
— Paralympic India 🇮🇳 #Cheer4India 🏅 #Praise4Para (@ParalympicIndia) August 25, 2021

Sonal gave a tough fight... pitched against a Chinese player to pull it to a 2-2 draw and then just give in by a few points. To have five game sets to play in severe disability is stunningly satisfying performance. This match gives her the confidence that she needed @Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/8rIc8DHHhF
— Deepa Malik (@DeepaAthlete) August 25, 2021

Not the start that the Indian side was hoping for, but the Indian dup of Sonalben and Bhavina Patel gave the fans plenty to cheer about. Both women did well to put up a fight against the world's very best!

The two will only grow in confidence going forward and still have a chance to make it to the knockout stage with one round-robin yet to be played for each each group!

Bhavina Patel has lost her first game against Zhou Ying of #CHN in Table Tennis - Women's Singles C4 - Group A Match#Tokyo2020 #TableTennis #Paralympics #Praise4Para pic.twitter.com/u4ChJ3loLg
— Sportskeeda India (@Sportskeeda) August 25, 2021

Final scoresheet:

Match analysis:
China's Zhou Ying showed her class in this opening round contest as she did not allow India's Bhavina Patel any inroads into the contest.

Bhavina looked sharp in her strokeplay today as she continues to hold her own in some of the rallies, but barring the second game, the Indian could not quite manage to keep pace with a red-hot opponent.

Bhavina will still be looking to come back strong after the defeat and with the nerves of a big-stage debut out of the way, we can expect a stronger showing!

Zhou def. Bhavina 3-0!

2-11 - It is game over for Bhavina in this contest as Zhou has taken a comfortable third game!

2-10 - The surge continues as Zhou arrives at matchpoint!

2-7 - This is turning into a very steady game from the former champion. Bhavina running out of steam here.

2-5 - It is close, but Zhou continues to keep her advatange.

The Indian is alive and kicking in this round-robin contest against the world’s very best, but can she find some magic as we head for the finish line?!

A breather for Bhavina as she opts for a timeout.

1-4 - Zhou is not giving away anything; it is cruise control at the moment.

1-2 - Last shot for Bhavina as this is a must win game!

Game 3 underway!

#Paralympics #TableTennis

A brilliant game from Bhavina but Zhou Ying gets the better of her in the second game as well#IND 0-2 #CHN #Tokyo2020 #Praise4Para
— Sportskeeda India (@Sportskeeda) August 25, 2021

Zhou leads Bhavina 2-0!

Zhou is using all her experience in this game as she maintains the advantage over Bhavina. Can the Indian pull one game back next?!

9-11 - And she looses a very tightly-contested game!!!

9-9 - Solid under pressure as BHAVINA LEVELS ONCE AGAIN! This is tight at the moment!

7-9 - Can Bhavina ask a few questions of the former champion here?!

6-8 - Quick service points help Zhou restore her lead.

6-6 - BHAVINA LEVELS after a good run of points!

4-6 - Better returning from the Indian though as she is putting up a good fight in this game!

2-5 - The serve has not worked as well for Bhavina today as she would have liked.

2-3 - Bhavina pulls one back as she stays close here early!

1-2 - Zhou takes the first point against serve as she looks to keep the momentum going.

Game 2 underway!

The Chinese is going from strength to strength as she kept on expanding her lead over Bhavina, who be looking for some answers in the remainder of the contest!

Zhou leads Bhavina 1-0!

3-11 - That was a blistering start from Zhou and Bhavina will need to step up here!

3-9 - Better rallying from the Indian as she is slowly looking to find her range.

2-8 - Bhavina stops the rot, but it is too late in this opening game?

1-7 - Bhavina yet to find inroads into the contest as it has been all Zhou so far.

1-6 - The Chinese is looking rather dialed in here as she races to a lead.

1-3 - Zhou opens a bit of a cushion over Bhavina.

1-1 - Score level in the very early stages.

Game 1 underway!

Today's second #Paratabletennis Match Begins: 🇮🇳 @BhavinaPatel6 is all set to compete with 🇨🇳 Zhou Ying in Women's Single Class 4 Group A Match#Praise4Para #Cheer4India All the way!#Tokyo2020 #Paralympics
— Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel) August 25, 2021

Can Bhavina pull off the unthinkable here and stage an upset in her Paralympics debut, stay tuned as we bring you the minute-to-minute updates of this thrilling contest!

Players are out on the table, warm-up underway!

The last match scheduled on Table 5 has come to an end and Bhavina Patel should be making her way to the gymnasium any moment now!

Are you ready to cheer for our para paddler @BhavinaPatel6 who will begin her first match at #Tokyo2020 Paralympics in some time?

Stay tuned for updates and continue to send in your #Cheer4India messages#Praise4Para #ParaTableTennis pic.twitter.com/GRo7hoF41l
— SAI Media (@Media_SAI) August 25, 2021

Another mammoth task for the Indian cotingent member as Bhavina Patel takes on the two-time former gold medalist Zhou Ying in her round-robin match!

Can she follow into the footsteps of her compatriot Sonalben Patel and punch above her weight? We're about to find out as live action coming your way in just a few moments!

Bhavina Patel:
World ranking: 12
Career highlight: Asian Para Games silver medal in women's doubles and a 5th place finish in singles (2018)
Zhou Ying:
World ranking: 1
Career highlight: Paralympics gold medalist (2008, 2012); World Champion in singles (2006, 2010)