Menu

Sonalben Patel Age, Husband, Family, Biography & More

Quick Info→
Hometown: Viramgam, Gujarat
Age: 36 Years
Husband: Ramesh Chaudhary

Sonalben Patel

Bio/Wiki
Full nameSonalben Manubhai Patel[1]ThePrint
ProfessionTable Tennis Player
Famous forWinning a bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games
Physical Stats & More
Eye ColourDark Brown
Hair ColourBlack
Table Tennis
HandednessLeft-handed
MedalsGold
• Two gold medals at the 2022 Fa40 Egypt Open
Sonalben Patel (right) after winning three medals at the ITTF Fa40 Egypt Para Open

Bronze
• Bronze medal at the 2022 Fa40 Egypt Open
• Bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games
Sonalben Patel after winning a bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games
AwardsEklavya Award by the Government of Karnataka in 2014
Sonalben Patel receiving the Eklavya Award
Career Turning Point2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games
CoachLalan Doshi
Personal Life
Date of Birth15 September 1987 (Tuesday)
Age (as of 2022)35 Years
BirthplaceViramgam, Gujarat, India
Zodiac signVirgo
NationalityIndian
HometownViramgam, Gujarat, India
SchoolGeeta Higher Secondary School
College/UniversityBlind People's Association
Educational QualificationDiploma/course in ITI [2]Vibes Of India
Relationships & More
Marital StatusMarried
Family
Husband/SpouseRamesh Chaudhary (para-athlete)
Sonalben Patel with her huband Ramesh Chaudhary
ParentsFather- Manubhai Patel
Mother- Labhuben Patel
Sonalben Patel with her parents

Sonalben Patel holding her medal

Some Lesser Known Facts About Sonalben Patel

  • Sonalben Patel is an Indian para-athlete, who plays table tennis. She made headlines for winning bronze medal in the table tennis women’s singles event at the 2022 Commonwealth Games which were held in Birmingham, the United Kingdom.
  • According to Sonalben Patel, when she was just six months old, she was affected by polio in both her legs and her right hand as a result of which she was left with a 90% disability.
  • While giving an interview, Sonalben Patel claimed that she wanted to become a teacher but her dreams of becoming a teacher remained unfulfilled as she was rejected because of her disabilities. She said,

    I was rejected and was denied to become a teacher, all because of my handicap-ness, which was cited as the reason for my rejection.”

  • After getting rejected, Sonalben Patel enrolled in the Blind People’s Association (BPA) and pursued a course in ITI. There, after being motivated by the director of the institute, Tejalben Lakhia, she took up table tennis and began practising for hours at a stretch. In an interview, she said,

    I would gaze for hours at those playing table tennis, I now laugh that it was the superintendent of the ITI department, Tejalben Lakhia who had motivated me to play and pursue a career in table tennis. After which I started practising for hours at once.”

  • Throughout her career, since 2008, Sonalben Patel has participated in several national and international-level competitions. As of August 2022, she has won more than three gold medals, four silver medals, and six bronze medals.
  • According to Sonalben Patel, she initially had taken up table tennis only as a hobby and had no intentions of pursuing a career in it. She claims her husband motivated her to pursue a professional career in table tennis. In an interview, she said,

    I was only planning to pursue table tennis as a hobby. But it was my husband who mentored me, taught me more about the sport, and motivated me enough to change my mind. After which I took up the sport and pursued it professionally.”

  • In 2021, Sonalben Patel represented India at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games. There, she was defeated by a South Korean table tennis player named Lee Mi-gyu. In an interview, she said,

    I could not win a medal in the Olympics. But I am proud to have represented my country there. It is a big deal to be selected for the Olympics.”

    Sonalben Patel during her match at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics

    Sonalben Patel during her match at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics

  • In 2022, Sonalben Patel participated in and won two gold medals and a bronze medal at the Fa40 Egypt Para Open.
  • In 2022, Sonalben Patel participated in the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where she defeated the United Kingdom’s table tennis player named Sue Bailey by a margin of 3-0 and won bronze medal in the women’s singles event. While giving an interview, Sonalben said,

    I am very happy as it is my first medal in singles at the Commonwealth Games. I am very happy. I want to dedicate this medal to my husband, family, coach and all of the countrymen. I had also not won a medal at Tokyo Paralympics 2020 and this stayed on my mind. When I was selected for the CWG, I wanted to win a medal.”

    Sonalben Patel during her match at the 2022 Commonwealth Games

    Sonalben Patel during her match at the 2022 Commonwealth Games

References/Sources:[+]