Saturday worked like a charm for India at the Commonwealth Games 2022 as the country won 14 medals in Birmingham. It was also a memorable day for Sonalben Manubhai Patel as the Para paddler won the bronze medal in women’s singles classes 3-5 by defeating Sue Bailey of England in straight games at the Commonwealth Games 2022.

Patel became the first Para athlete of her category to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games as she bagged the bronze. Her success was later followed by Para paddler Bhavina Patel, who won the gold medal in the same category on Saturday, shortly after Sonalben’s victory.

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The 34-year-old began her Commonwealth Games 2022 campaign on a strong note, defeating Sue Bailey in the first group stage match. She continued her excellence in the second and third matches of the group stage, beating Amanda Jane Tschrke of Australia and Chinenye Obiora of Nigeria by 3-0 and 3-1 respectively.

However, the experienced Indian Para paddler was defeated 3-1 by Ifechukwude Ikpeoyi of Nigeria in the semifinal, who advanced to the final, where she was beaten by India’s Bhavina Patel. The semifinal defeat forced Sonalben Manubhai Patel to play in the bronze medal match against Sue Bailey of England, defeating her in straight games (3-0) to clinch the bronze medal.

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Sonalben Manubhai Patel defeated Sue Bailey twice in a gap of three days on her road to the bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games 2022, the first of which came on August 3 in the first group stage match.

Her bronze medal helped India to increase its medal tally to 40 and is currently sitting in the fifth position on the table behind Australia, England, Canada and New Zealand. India has won 13 gold, 11 silver and 16 bronze medals till now but will look forward to toppling New Zealand in the fourth spot with 44 medals.