On August 30, Taiwan’s women’s table tennis pair, Tien Hsiao-Wen and Lin Tzu-Yu, clinched a spot in the semifinals of the WD20 level at the Paris Paralympics, ensuring at least a bronze medal. Their next goal? Securing a place in the gold medal match.
During the second day of table tennis events, Tien and Lin faced off against Turkish competitors Merve Demir and Neslihan Kavas in the quarterfinals. Although they found themselves trailing early in the first game, the duo showcased impressive resilience, rallying back to take the game 11-7, and then winning the following two games 11-6 and 11-8, achieving a straight-set victory that propelled them to the semifinals.
According to reports from the United Daily News, the second day of doubles competition was particularly intense. As the top seed this year, Tien and Lin received a bye in the round of 16, setting them up against the fifth-seeded Demir and Kavas in the quarterfinals.
Securing at least a medal upon winning their match, Tien and Lin initially struggled at the start of the first game but quickly adapted, regaining momentum. After winning the first game, their strong performance continued into the second. Despite facing a tie at 8-8 in the third game, they executed a impressive streak of three consecutive points to seal their semifinal position. Notably, due to the tournament format, which does not include a bronze medal match, their place in the semifinals guarantees them a medal, marking a successful continuation for Tien, who captured a bronze in the TT10 level at the Tokyo Paralympics.
Central News Agency confirmed Tien and Lin’s qualification for the WD20 level semifinals, assuring them at least a bronze medal. Tien expressed her intention to maintain the same focus that propelled them through their earlier matches.
Previously, Tien earned a bronze medal in the women’s singles TT10 level at the Tokyo Paralympics. This time, she is not only competing in singles but is also partnering with her friend Lin, who was the TT10 level gold medalist at last year’s Hangzhou Asian Para Games. As the top seeds, they advanced automatically to the quarterfinals. With the Paris event lacking a bronze medal match, their position in the final four guarantees a medal.
On August 31, they will compete against the Polish duo Natalia Partyka and Karolina Pek for a chance to vie for gold. Tien noted her desire to maintain the same intense focus and rhythm they displayed in their earlier matches and emphasized the importance of analyzing their upcoming opponents.
