Dark clouds over the French capital, but flickering spotlights in the Paris Sud stadium, where Sandra Mikolaschek will play for gold this Saturday evening. The Düsseldorf para table tennis player has won her third Paralympics-Participation the opportunity to crown their career so far with a victory.
To do this, she must prevail in the final against the favorite Peric-Rankovic. The experienced Serbian has the opportunity to win her second gold medal at the Paralympics in the packed arena.
Mikolaschek gets off to a great start and leads 8:4 in the first set. The athlete, wearing black, red and gold, goes to the referee’s desk several times between points to wipe her face with a towel. The Serbian shows gestures of frustration – a psychological strategy?
Thunderous cheers in the Arena Sud
Mikolaschek won the first set confidently with 11:5. The German was also clearly superior in the second set, with the final score being 11:3. In the third set, the Serbian fought back and initially led 3:1, then things became spectacular.
After a short rally, Peric-Rankovic plays a precise drop shot just behind the edge of the net. Mikolaschek reacts quickly, drives her wheelchair past the table tennis table on the left and hits a brilliant smash that the Serbian can only watch. Thunderous cheers ring out in the Arena Sud, the German coach raises his fist in the air and even the German’s opponent claps in recognition.
After a few rare lapses in concentration and a missed serve, Mikolaschek narrowly loses the third set. Is a comeback still possible? The hall DJ reacts promptly with humor and plays “99 Luftballons” – in English.
In a thrilling fourth set, the 27-year-old para-athlete is not deterred and, after several changes of lead, finally wins the match point. The spectators stamp their feet on the steel structure before the serve and then cheers erupt: Sandra Mikolaschek actually wins gold and with great table tennis. The audience thanks her with a standing ovation as the wheelchair user leaves the hall with her trainer.
