One-armed TT player wins hearts at Olympics

London: Of all the success stories at the London Olympics 2012, one stands out as an inspiration for millions battling physical disability. Table tennis player Natalia Partyka of Poland, who was born without an arm, has won hearts at both the Paralympic and the open games for her resilience and grit.

Partyka, 23, reached the last 32 of the Olympic women's singles event beating Denmark’s Mie Skov 4-3 but she lost to Li Jie of the Netherlands during their match on Sunday.

When Partyka prepares to serve you realise just how impressive she is. She was born without a right forearm and has to carefully balance the ball in the folds of skin at the end of her elbow before dropping it on to her swishing bat.

She is one of only two people to compete in both the Olympics and its Paralympic cousin this year, the other being South African blade runner Oscar Pistorius.

"For me, it (disability) is nothing," she told reporters after losing her third round match to Netherlands' Jie Li. "I am playing the same lines as the others. I am doing the same exercises.

"We have the same goals and the same dreams and I can play like them. I can serve and don't have any problems.

"I get a bit bored about being asked about disability all the time." She is happy, however, if her achievements act as an inspiration to others. "Maybe someone will see me and realise that their own disability is not the end of the world," she said. "Maybe someone will look at me and think they can achieve something bigger than they thought. Maybe sometimes you have to work a little bit harder if you really want to do something. If I'm an inspiration I can't complain."

Her individual Olympic campaign was ended when she gave away a two-game lead to lose 4-2 but she still has the team event to come and then she must defend the Paralympic title she won four years ago in Beijing.

"When I play here in the Paralympic Games I probably will be at an advantage, having played here already," she added. "But everybody else will get the chance to practice here first, so they'll be well prepared." (Inputs and quotes from Reuters)