OLOMOUC, Czech Republic, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Polish table tennis player Natalia Partyka, a four time Paralympic champion, said here on Thursday that she would try to qualify for both 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
"I hope to qualify for both," said Partyka, who paired with Natalia Bajor to reach the quarterfinals of the ITTF Czech Open. "I attended both three times before, so why not next year?"
Born without her right forearm and hand, Partyka became one of the two athletes who participated in both Beijing Olympics and Paralympics. She covered both in 2008 Beijing, 2012 Lodon and 2016 Rio Olympic and Paralymipc Games, and also attended 2004 Athens Paralympics, winning the women's singles in all the four Paralympics.
As paddlers begin their serve by tossing the ball with the off hand, Partyka did the same by cradling the ball in the crook of her right elbow.
At today's women's doubles event, the polish duo lost the first two sets, but swept the following three sets in a row.
"It's not a easy match. We had some problems at the beginning. We couldn't find the way to win the points. But finally we played a few balls better. We took one set and everything changed."
Partyka lost in the women's singles on Wednesday.
She said she and her team are training hard for the 2020 Olympic Games.
"Tokyo 2020 is coming. The only thing to do is to practice hard and keep on fighting and try our best."
She said she did't have special training. "I just practice every day the same as the others," she said.
