Bhavinaben Patel on Friday scripted history by becoming the first Indian table tennis player to secure a medal in the Tokyo Paralympics, setting the tone for an upbeat contingent aiming for its best-ever finish at the Games.

Patel, competing in her maiden Paralympics, ensured a podium finish for herself by entering the semi-finals with a stunning straight-game win over World No. 2 and defending champion Borislava Peric Rankovic of Serbia in the women’s singles Class 4 event.