Move over, China. Australia is home to the newest table tennis gold medallists

Take note: Australia has a very formidable Paralympic table tennis team.

With a booming Qian Yang forehand winner, Australia claimed its fifth gold medal of the Paralympics on Saturday night in Paris with victory in the women’s doubles (WD20).

Just hours after Amanda Reid won gold for Australia at the cycling track, Qian and Lina Lei solidified their standing as two of the world’s best para table tennis players, with a comfortable three-sets-to-one win over Chinese Taipei duo Tzu Yu Lin and Shiau Wen Tian (11-7, 11-6, 3-11, 12-10).

Australia’s 12-player table tennis squad is the country’s largest since 1968 in Tel Aviv and there is quiet confidence the team can do something special in Paris. The sport has been included as a foundation Paralympic sport since 1960.

China has always been synonymous with success in table tennis, and Qian and Lei are products of that system. Having represented China at previous Paralympic Games, the pair moved to Australia after Rio 2016 to improve their English and for a life change.

They are rock stars of the Australian team and complement each other’s games perfectly.

Gold medallists Lina Lei (right) and Qian Yang (left) of Australia pose on the podium. Credit: Getty Images

“On the table, they have been playing with each other for years. Off the table, they’re the best of friends,” said the pair’s coach Maggie Meng. “Qian’s mentality is so strong and Lina is just so experienced. They play like one person. No gaps between them. They’re totally different personalities.

“They trained so much when back in China, like maybe six days, seven hours a day. That’s why they have a very solid foundation. That’s why they can play well.”

Lei said at the last Paralympics her Aussie nickname was “yeah-nah”.

“So exciting to get our first doubles gold medal,” Lei said. “It’s a different meaning for us because last time in Tokyo, we only got single medals.

“I got a lot of medals, but every time I still feel a different meaning. We are very close friends. We know each other from when Qian was a child.

“I quite enjoy the Australian lifestyle and because our team, the Australian table tennis team, is a lovely family. We accept every culture.”

Lei was born with a deficiency in her right lower leg, while Qian has an arm deficiency.

Spectators were treated to a masterclass but much like going to the cricket, it is better to sit behind the bowler’s arm, or in this case, looking down the table.

Lina Lei and Qian Yang were all smiles following their victory in Paris. Credit: Getty Images

Before the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021, Australia hadn’t won a table tennis gold medal in 37 years.

Courtesy of Qian and Lei, Australia snared two inside an hour and after Saturday’s performance look set for a productive Games, with both due to feature in the individual competitions.

Over at the velodrome, cyclist Amanda Reid defended her Tokyo gold in the 500-metre time trial (C1-3), beating China’s Wangwei Qian by just under a second.

Reid, classed with cerebral palsy and an intellectual impairment, competed in swimming in London 2012 but switched to the bike in Rio 2016.

She said Saturday’s win felt significant as she had been dealing with back issues in the lead-up to the race.

“The last months have been really rough for me so to go back-to-back is just absolutely amazing,” she told Nine.

Reid was supported by her mum in the crowd. She is one of four Indigenous athletes representing Australia at the Paris Games.

“This means everything being an Indigenous athlete … to represent my country and people back home is just amazing.”

Australia’s wheelchair rugby team will also face Japan in a semi-final on Sunday (9.30pm AEST).

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