Thirty -two years. It is the time that has passed between the 1992 and those of Paris. Since then, There had always been at least one Spaniard on the table tennis podium of the Paralympic Games. However, the elimination of much of the national block in French lands, with veterans Álvaro Valera, José Manuel Ruiz and Jordi Morales in front, put in check the breakage of that streak.
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But the streak will continue. Ander strains is one of the debutants of the Spanish team in these games. At twenty years old, he is debuting in a Paralympic appointment in Paris. Formed in the Paralympic Promise Team Verallia, he has been trained for two years at the CAR of Madrid with Rafael Taboada. It is one of the young Spanish promises, already with international victories such as the one achieved this year in the Open of Brazil. Also, with a medal already hung from the neck.
“Devos is the great favorite to gold, a superserie. It has been my idol throughout my sports career and face him in the semifinals without any pressure is a dream”
Strains was born with Derecha lateral hemiparesisa reality that reduces its mobility. Compete in Class 9, of which the Belgian Devos Laurens is king and reference. This Saturday, Ander, the young debutant of the Spanish team, already with a safe bronze, the teacher will be measured in all semifinals of some games. Devos is one of the biggest prodigies arising in table tennis in recent years: gold in Rio and in Tokyo, double world champion and Séxtuple European champion.
Ander strains, with nothing to lose in the semifinals of the games
“I am also very proud of the work that my coach Rafa Taboada has done as well as me, especially in these last two years and peak,” says an excited strains. “Devos is the great favorite to gold, a superserie. It has been my idol Throughout my sports career and face him in the semifinals without any pressure, “says Ander.
First medalist
He had dreamed before the games with a moment that this Saturday (10:00 hours) will come true. Formed at the orders of Gorka Fernández, strains have been tanning for two years within the national team. “When I arrived at Car, more than the change of technician I lived a change of life. Until eighteen years I had been training in my club, Atlético de San Sebastián. Going to a national center was a leap to being professional, to train tomorrow and afternoon during every day, “Ander describes.
He is living his debut in games, but his work has been impeccable so far. “Apart from the technique, I have prepared the psychological aspect a lot. I think that for great events like this you have to have very clear ideas. Even so, in the doubles the situation we were overcome by the situation, “says a very demanding strains with himself.” I'm still frustrated because we came to fight by medal and I can't change it, “he says about his participation with Jorge Cardona in doubles.” We came with aspirations to win a medal, “he says.
His demand has made differences so far in the individual picture. “The double was a great learning to play with as much public as there is on the track, with noise and an environment that one is not accustomed,” he explains. “Although it is true that we were overcome by the pressure of the environment,” he says. Applied, he has learned quickly and has been growing over the days. “We have escaped several medals, but the work behind my tournament is very large and not just mine“, dice.
“Apart from the technique, I have prepared the psychological aspect a lot. I think that for great events like this you have to have very clear ideas”
The table tennis selection has authentic totems in the global team in Paris. The flag bearer Álvaro Valera, José Manuel Ruiz or Jordi Morales They are for many great Olympic cycles referents. But strains is demonstrating in Paris that the new generation is prepared to take over. “I have been taught a barbarity. They have been great referents for me and I try to get the relay a bit, “says Ander.” Living with them has been an incredible experience, “he says about what he is living these days with even more intensity than in recent months.
His rise to the first line has been meteoric. In just a few months, Ander has been placed as number 3 in the world of his discipline. The hobby that started a few years ago has become the sport that has already made it into the history of Spanish table tennis. He looked for his site in his sport and found him in class 9, in which he has left his stamp in Paris this week.
He wants to keep leaving him. Ander strains is clear that its story has done nothing more than start. With the impudence that youth brings, this Saturday he will be fighting against one of the best players in the history of his sport like Davos in search of the pass to a whole final of the games. He will do it with the network that gives him to know that, whatever happens, he will be bronze medalist. That's why he wants more: The debutant who maintains the legend of Spanish table tennis at the Paralympic Games is ready to challenge the myth.
