Table tennis star Qian Yang sets sights on Los Angeles 2028 Olympics after golden run at Paris Paralympics

Australia’s unstoppable one-armed table tennis sensation Qian Yang has set her sights on crossing over to the Olympic team for Los Angeles.

Australia’s unstoppable one-armed table tennis sensation Qian Yang has set her sights on crossing over to the Olympic team for Los Angeles in 2028 after destroying her Paralympic rivals in Paris.

In a class of her own at the Paralympics, Yang brushed past Poland’s Natalia Partyka 11-6 11-9 -12-10 in a lopsided gold medal match in the French capital that lasted less than half an hour.

With the win, the naturalised Chinese star, who now calls Melbourne home, successfully retained the Category 10 singles crown she first won for Australia at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021.

Qian Yang has set her sights on crossing over to the Olympic team for Los Angeles in 2028. Picture: Getty Images

She also won a third for her adopted country in the doubles after teaming up with Lina Lei, another former Chinese star. The pair were on the same Chinese squad that won the team event at London in 2012 before they later switched allegiances to Australia.

Just 28 and at the peak of her powers, Yang is now in search of a new challenge so has revealed she is going to have a crack at trying to make the Australian team for the next Olympics.

“If I am given the opportunity, I would really like to compete for Australia at the Olympics,” said Yang, whose lower left arm was amputated after she was involved in an accident as a child.

Qian Yang has been in a class of her own at the Paris Paralympics. Picture: Getty Images

“I really like playing for Australia. There is a very friendly training environment. It is not very high pressure in the team.“

That’s her polite way of saying she doesn’t get a lot of serious competition in her current category, which is entirely true, because she really is a cut above everyone else in her category.

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The competition is much harder at the Olympics and just qualifying is a feat itself although a handful of talented women have competed at both Games.

One of them is Australia’s Melissa Tapper.

Another was Yang’s opponent in the Paris Paralympic final, who is convinced the Aussie can do it.

”She is good enough to play at the Olympics,“ Partyka said. “She’s improved after moving to Australia.”