At just 22 years old, Prithika Pavade, affiliated with Saint-Denis Tennis de table 93, has marked a career milestone by winning her first individual international medal. This significant achievement comes after she was ranked 41st in the world before the competition.
However, the young athlete harbors some regrets. After defeating the defending champion in the round of 16, she came very close to reaching the final, ultimately losing 13-11 in the seventh set. While this performance earned her a bronze medal, it leaves a bittersweet taste.
The day before the semi-final, Prithika Pavade caused a sensation by defeating Germany's Sabine Winter, the favorite, defending champion, and world No. 9. Winter, a seven-time European champion, had not lost a set prior to this match. Pavade won 4 sets to 2 (11-7, 11-5, 8-11, 7-11, 11-8, 12-10), a victory that undoubtedly boosted her confidence for the quarter-finals, where she decisively beat Romania's Zaharia in four sets.
The semi-final match between Prithika Pavade and Russia's Elizabet Abraamian was the most closely contested of the tournament. After an exchange of sets, the match unfolded with intense suspense. Pavade won the first set (11-8), but Abraamian equalized (5-11). The French player regained the lead (11-7), only for the Russian to level the score again (11-8). Pavade then took the fifth set (11-8) and started the next one with a 3-0 lead. However, Abraamian turned the tide, winning 12-10 despite Pavade saving two set points. The match thus went to a seventh set, where Abraamian ultimately triumphed 13-11.
“"Yes, frankly, a big match. A match point… (she cries). Ping pong, it comes down to very little. I have nothing to regret, truly, about what I did. Whether it was her or me, I think we played the best match we could. There were turnarounds in every direction. And so, of course, it hurts immensely, because… Given how I was playing, of course, you want to reach that European final, and maybe even more."
“"It will be, for sure. My first European medal in singles, I don't think there have been many in women's table tennis, so yes, we will savor it, but it will be a mix of everything. But right now, yes, it definitely hurts when you lose so narrowly. You know you could have played a European final, it makes you want to..."
Despite the disappointment, Prithika Pavade, a two-time French champion and two-time Olympian, cherishes this first individual European medal. At 22, she has many more years ahead of her in the world of table tennis.
