12/13/2011       

Previously it was swimming, athletics and judo; now they must stand aside and bow to table tennis.

Facts and figures never lie; they are just open to interpretation.

The statistics that emanate from the recently completed Parapan Games in Guadalajara are objective; the interpretation is very clear, unambiguous.

Brazil led the medal table ahead of the United States of America and Mexico.

The reason was table tennis!

Percentage Gold Medal Rate
Brazilian table tennis players participated in 21 events overall, they secured 12 gold medals, one more than four years earlier on home soil in Rio de Janeiro.

A 57% success was the order of the day for Brazil in terms of gold medals won in relation to the number possible.

Most Successful
It was the most successful of all sports for Brazil in Guadalajara well ahead of its main rivals, swimming, athletics and judo.

The average for swimming was 38%, for athletics 24% and for judo 20%.

Rapid Progress
Earlier in the year a very successful Brazil Para Table Tennis Open was staged in Rio de Janeiro and now, with Para Table Tennis under the direction of the Brazilian Table Tennis Confederation, matters are moving forward at a rapid rate.

London Bound
Furthermore, one fact that pleases Alaor Azevedo, the President of the Brazilian Table Tennis Confederation, is that ten table tennis players have already qualified to compete in the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

The Brazilian representation in London will be greater than in Beijing in 2008.

On the Right Lines
“We are showing that we are evolving as well”, said Alaor Azevedo. “We are on track and we will work harder to ensure better results.”

On the right track most certainly and medals in London; surely a distinct possibility.

Claudiomiro Segata, the Men’s Singles Class 5 winner at the Parapan Games