After surviving a racially motivated machete attack, this Paralympian fell in love with table tennis

Paris: Australian table tennis player Jessy Chen holds no animosity towards the man who almost murdered him with a machete in a racially motivated attack that put him in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

“I couldn’t see anyone,” says Chen of the incident 18 years ago in the Solomon Islands.

Jessy Chen competes in the mixed doubles at the Paris Paralympics.Credit: Getty Images for IPC

“You can’t do something now. It’s many years already, so for me, it’s all right.”

Everyone at the Paralympics has a story to tell, but Chen’s recovery from a brutal injury that saw him spend a year in hospital is particularly remarkable.

Born in China, Chen’s family moved to the Solomons Islands in 2006 when he was a teenager because of his father’s work. It was not an easy transition as racial tensions escalated, with many Chinese-owned businesses attacked.

A burglary in the middle of the night at the family home almost ended in disaster as Chen was bludgeoned with a machete in the neck in a targeted attack from behind.

Chen suffered a heart attack from the incident and didn’t regain consciousness until he woke up in hospital three days later. He also lost a significant amount of blood.

“That night I still remember when I [was] sending my friend out of the gate [in] the night,” Chen said.

“I come back from the garden and I didn’t see anything. I didn’t hear anything. I woke up in the hospital and it had been three days. When I woke up my mum told me what was happening.

“I can’t remember much. Everything started again. It took a long time to build up everything. It’s tough.”

Jessy Chen pictured after his accident.

Chen learned that he would be a quadriplegic and never walk again. He spent months in rehabilitation to get his life back in order.

His mother initially thought he’d be out of hospital within a week, but she was wrong.

Chen was unable to receive specific medical treatment in the Solomon Islands, so his family was granted a three-month visa to come to Australia.

“The government helped me a lot,” he said. “It helped me in my life. I feel more comfortable with life now and in Australia.”

Jessy Chen at the Paralympic village.

The 34-year-old wants to repay Australia for the help he received and believes the best way to do so is through table tennis.

Chen used to play a little bit of table tennis when he was in China, but got into it seriously eight years ago after visiting the Royal Rehabilitation Centre in Sydney.

Like so many athletes in Paris, sport is the most important thing in his life and a vehicle for him to showcase his talents. Chen’s reflexes are razor sharp and he boasts beautiful forehands and backhands that he has worked on so hard for years.

“It’s good to have other things in my life,” Chen said. “[My parents] feel excited and feel happy for me to qualify. I feel much different to before.”

Chen even coaches table tennis at the same rehabilitation centre where he fell in love with the game. He wants to get as many people involved in the sport that gave him purpose in life after an incident that no one would wish on their worst enemy.

His mother Jenny will be watching on proudly from Australia as her son competes at his maiden Paralympics.

“We contact [via] phone and video call,” Chen said. “It’s exciting for me and it will be a step up.”

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