Chao Ming eyes table tennis medal at 2020 Para Games

KUALA LUMPUR: Chee Chao Ming was born with a disability but that has not stopped him from achieving his goals.

The national para table tennis player has set a lofty target of winning a medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

Ranked 20th in the world in the men’s TT9 category, the 22-year-old believes he has what it takes to accomplish the feat.

“Even though I was born with less fingers on my hand, I wanted to prove that I can lead a normal life and achieve something and there was no better way to do that than in table tennis.

“I’ve been playing the sport since I was eight. I took it up because I believe I can make my life better,” said Chao Ming.

“I also wanted to make my family proud.”

Chao Ming had an impressive 2018 as he won a gold with his 53-year-old partner Ting Ing Hock in the men’s doubles TT8-9 category at the Para Asian Games in Jakarta in October.

He went on to bag bronze medals in the TT9 individual category.

In the same month, he finished in the last eight of the Para Table Tennis World Championships in Slovenia.

“I had hopes to go further at the World Championships but as it was my debut, I was not mentally strong enough to handle the pressure of competing in a major event.”

To qualify for the Paralympics, Chao Ming must be in the top 20 but he hopes to break into the top 10 before the end of the year.

“Right now my mind is focused on qualifying for Tokyo and this year’s Manila Sea Games (in December).

“I just need to improve my skills and work on my mental strength. I’m wiser now having played in the Asian Games and World Championships. And I know I can only get better as I’m still young.”