Camelia and Gabriela are ready for Paralympics

The Paris Paralympic Games are less than one year away, and JYSK has met with some of the athletes that are training for the games.

It is noon. We are in a quiet area near the center of Bucharest, surrounded by small houses. A table tennis court is located here, pretty well hidden from people’s view. The sound of the table tennis balls can be heard from the entrance. Inside, boys and girls, men and women, are playing ping-pong.

Two women are training at one of the tables, and they are both wearing "Team Romania" T-Shirts. It is the official jersey of Olympic and Paralympic athletes. The two girls are Camelia Ciripan and Gabriela Constantin, and Camelia was one of the starring athletes in JYSK's international parasports video "Everyone can succeed".

AN IMPORTANT YEAR

Camelia and Gabriela play both individual table tennis events and doubles. In recent months, they played at the European Para Table Tennis Championships in Sheffield, UK, and at an international tournament in Saudi Arabia, and returned with medals. But all the competitions and trainings this year have a bigger stake: qualifying for the Paralympic Games in Paris in 2024.

"This year is full of challenges, the training is more intense, and the mental pressure is higher than usual. We hope that both our work and our coaches’ work will bear fruit and we will enjoy the best possible results," says Camelia Ciripan, who started practicing this sport seven years ago, when a gentleman from an NGO for disabled athletes gave her a table tennis racket.

Her colleague, Gabriela Constantin, has been playing for over 20 years.

"It was difficult in the beginning, but I fell in love with this sport in time, it didn't seem difficult anymore and it became a pleasure to play. I chose this sport because it was the most accessible for me, and because I liked it. This year will be harder, more intense, the effort is greater, but I know that all the training helps me be better," says Gabriela.

FREEDOM AND INCLUSION

Although she suffered a serious injury and took a break for two years, Camelia Ciripan has returned to training. On the table tennis court she feels free. That is why she encourages other girls to start practicing a sport.

"Most of the times, girls with disabilities don't really practice sports. I would like to encourage them to find one they like. Sport offers us a lot, and most important, it is inclusive. We manage to accept ourselves easily and we can be part of a community that is our own," says Camelia.

For Gabriela, practicing a sport helps her to stay fit both physically and mentally.

"It gives me a good mood, it makes me happier, more optimistic, it gives me energy, it improves my concentration and attention and helps me have confidence in myself," she says.

In addition to the freedom and joy they feel while playing table tennis, the two are happy that, at the table tennis court, they are part of a community where athletes help each other and feel useful.