The Canadian Paralympic Committee and Table Tennis Canada announced Tuesday that Richmond’s Stephanie Chan has been nominated for selection to Team Canada for this September's Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
Chan qualified for Rio last August when she won the gold medal in women's class 7 singles at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games. She is currently ranked 10th in the world.
“This is the first time that we ever had a player ranked in the top-10 compete at the Paralympic Games,” said John MacPherson, Table Tennis Canada's para head coach. “Stephanie has the potential for excellent results in Rio and I know she will be an inspiration to those who follow her in the future.”
Chan is Canada's first Paralympian to compete in table tennis at the Paralympic Games since Ian Kent placed 12th in 2008.
“Congratulations to Stephanie on her nomination,” said Canada's Chef de Mission Chantal Petitclerc. “I had the chance to meet Stephanie last summer at the Parapan American Games after her victory, and she was incredibly excited about her momentous achievement.”
Para table tennis is one of 22 sports on the Paralympic Games schedule and it is played by athletes with various disabilities. The Rio 2016 Paralympic Games will take place Sept. 7-18, with the para table tennis events set for September 8-17.
“On behalf of the Government of Canada and Canadians across the country, I want to congratulate Stephanie Chan who will serve up a relentless commitment to excellence in Rio,” said the Honorable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities. “Team Canada, the team behind the team - 35 million strong - is behind you all the way.”
