٠٠:٠٢:٣٦Russian para-athlete and table tennis star Ivan Karpov has qualified to compete at the Summer Paralympic Games in Paris after a strong performance at a qualification tournament in Thailand.
Footage captured in Chelyabinsk on Friday shows Karpov training in preparation for his Paralympics debut.
"I trained every day from the age of ten. 17 years, more than half my life. Of course, I put a lot of time and effort into the sport. <...> I am definitely determined to go there and come home with a medal. I will have two events - a mixed and an individual. I'm going to come home with medals from both of them. Two medals to win," Karpov said.
Karpov said he feels it is 'unfair' that Russian para-athletes have to compete under a neutral status.
“Sport is a sport. And people have always found a common language through sport, always got to know each other, made friends, and nothing should stop that," he added.
"The Olympics is the biggest kick-off for any athlete, for any sport, and it's the biggest achievement. You go for it all your life and I don't think anything should get in the way of that," the athlete continued.
According to the Russian Paralympic Committee, 85 Russian athletes have been accredited to participate in the Games in Paris, while seven more are awaiting the international organisation's inspection results.
Russia's representatives are expected to participate in the Games in the French capital with 48 track and field athletes, 35 swimmers, and five table tennis athletes, two in triathlon and taekwondo.
The Summer Paralympic Games will take place in Paris from August 28 to September 8. The International Paralympic Committee allowed Russian athletes to participate in the Games in an individual neutral status, without the right to take part in the opening and closing ceremonies.
'I'm going to come home with medals' - Russian table tennis player gears up for Paris 2024 Paralympics
Russian para-athlete and table tennis star Ivan Karpov has qualified to compete at the Summer Paralympic Games in Paris after a strong performance at a qualification tournament in Thailand.
Footage captured in Chelyabinsk on Friday shows Karpov training in preparation for his Paralympics debut.
"I trained every day from the age of ten. 17 years, more than half my life. Of course, I put a lot of time and effort into the sport. <...> I am definitely determined to go there and come home with a medal. I will have two events - a mixed and an individual. I'm going to come home with medals from both of them. Two medals to win," Karpov said.
Karpov said he feels it is 'unfair' that Russian para-athletes have to compete under a neutral status.
“Sport is a sport. And people have always found a common language through sport, always got to know each other, made friends, and nothing should stop that," he added.
"The Olympics is the biggest kick-off for any athlete, for any sport, and it's the biggest achievement. You go for it all your life and I don't think anything should get in the way of that," the athlete continued.
According to the Russian Paralympic Committee, 85 Russian athletes have been accredited to participate in the Games in Paris, while seven more are awaiting the international organisation's inspection results.
Russia's representatives are expected to participate in the Games in the French capital with 48 track and field athletes, 35 swimmers, and five table tennis athletes, two in triathlon and taekwondo.
The Summer Paralympic Games will take place in Paris from August 28 to September 8. The International Paralympic Committee allowed Russian athletes to participate in the Games in an individual neutral status, without the right to take part in the opening and closing ceremonies.
Russian para-athlete and table tennis star Ivan Karpov has qualified to compete at the Summer Paralympic Games in Paris after a strong performance at a qualification tournament in Thailand.
Footage captured in Chelyabinsk on Friday shows Karpov training in preparation for his Paralympics debut.
"I trained every day from the age of ten. 17 years, more than half my life. Of course, I put a lot of time and effort into the sport. <...> I am definitely determined to go there and come home with a medal. I will have two events - a mixed and an individual. I'm going to come home with medals from both of them. Two medals to win," Karpov said.
Karpov said he feels it is 'unfair' that Russian para-athletes have to compete under a neutral status.
“Sport is a sport. And people have always found a common language through sport, always got to know each other, made friends, and nothing should stop that," he added.
"The Olympics is the biggest kick-off for any athlete, for any sport, and it's the biggest achievement. You go for it all your life and I don't think anything should get in the way of that," the athlete continued.
According to the Russian Paralympic Committee, 85 Russian athletes have been accredited to participate in the Games in Paris, while seven more are awaiting the international organisation's inspection results.
Russia's representatives are expected to participate in the Games in the French capital with 48 track and field athletes, 35 swimmers, and five table tennis athletes, two in triathlon and taekwondo.
The Summer Paralympic Games will take place in Paris from August 28 to September 8. The International Paralympic Committee allowed Russian athletes to participate in the Games in an individual neutral status, without the right to take part in the opening and closing ceremonies.