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Table tennis: at only 16 years old, Prithika Pavade qualifies for her first Olympic Games

2021-04-25T13:54:22.070Z


Prodigy of the table tennis section of Saint-Denis, Prithika Pavade brilliantly validated her ticket for the Tokyo Olympic Games ... at


" It's a dream ! As she collapsed once the match was over, Prithika Pavade seemed to realize her achievement. In Guimaraes (Portugal), the teenager from Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis) flew over the semi-final of the Olympic qualifying tournament (TQO) and snatched her ticket for the Tokyo Games (July 23 - August 8) . At only 16, the one who grew up at Le Bourget defeated Russian Yana Noskova (27, 60th in the world), four rounds to one (11-5, 11-7, 14-12, 9-11, 11-6) . Packaged for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Pavade has taken the lead and she knows it. "The Olympics are the major tournament, I did not expect to achieve it so soon," she responded, in perfect English at the microphone of the European Union table tennis. “It was an opportunity to play my game as freely as possible and I got there.I played against very experienced players so I'm happy. "

From France, Jean-Claude Molet observed the game with a special eye.

The president of the table tennis section of Saint-Denis US 93 relishes the progress made.

“It's an amazing performance because this tournament is very tough psychologically and physically.

Prithika played seven games in 4 winning sets, conceding 2 sets at most per game, it's really superb.

She signed two performances of choice: first on the Czech Hana Matelova, 51st in the world and today against Noskova, 60th in the world.

It's incredible… She had already played against this Russian this season and she had lost.

So, in a few months, she took a new step.

"

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The youngest participant in this TQO, Prithika Pavade is getting closer to her goal, which has always been the same since she was 12 years old: to become an Olympic champion.

His progress abounds in this direction since nothing stops the young prodigy.

“She arrived in Saint-Denis 7 years ago,” recalls Jean-Claude Molet with joy.

“She started in the club in the city where she lived, in Le Bourget.

She came with her starting trainer, Nicolas Greiner.

She quickly progressed to the national level, winning all the national titles.

When she was minimal, she won in the cadets, when she was in the cadets, she won in the juniors… And last season, she became European champion under 21, at 15!

"

A victory for his missing mentor

However, a shock could have stopped his ascent. In October 2020, Nicolas Greiner died suddenly of a cardiac arrest while cycling, at the age of 43. Coach of the French junior women's team at INSEP, the trainer leaves a great void. At the beginning of April, Prithika Pavade looked back on the last trying months: “It's been a tough year for table tennis but also emotionally” she confided “but you have to bounce back, that's life, it's like that. Within the club, we want to do well for Nicolas. It is obvious that it is present in all of our heads. "

When it was necessary to resist the reaction of pride of the Russian in the third set and save set points this Saturday, Prithika Pavade probably thought of her mentor. Extra mental strength. "Everyone was marked by the sudden death of Nicolas", admits Jean-Claude Molet, happy to see three of his players qualified for the Olympics "there was a whole support with the psychological staff of the INSEP who has allowed the girls to react as quickly as possible. The results prove it. “Beyond her athletic performance, Prithika Pavade also proved her strength of character and her ability to bounce back, two precious qualities for her first Olympic Games.

Source: leparis

All sports articles on 2021-04-25

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