TOKYO (VG) (Aida Husic Dahlen-Zsofia Arloy 3-1) Table tennis player Aida Husic Dahlen (30) takes Norway’s first medal at the Paralympics – but the class isn’t ready yet.
Obviously after her quarter-final win against Hungarian Zsofia Arloy in Tokyo on Friday morning Norwegian time.
With each of the losing semi-finalists taking the bronze, the Southerner actually got a medal – but it could be bronze, silver, and gold.
This is special – my first Paralympic medal. It’s almost unbelievable, says VG’s emotional Aida Husic Dahlen on the way to the locker room.
– I noticed that the opponent was nervous, so I “shot”.
She got a Chinese opposition in the semi-finals.
Dahlin had three match balls in the first set, but lost four in a row. It was a very exciting group that they eventually won 14-12.
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The 30-year-old played superbly in the second set and led straight 6-1. She eventually won the set 11-6.
Obviously, Aida Husek Dahlin led from the start as well in the third set, but the Hungarian turned to 6-4. Sørlendingen came back evenly with a score of 8-8 – but Arloy sent the group home with a score of 11-9. In the fourth set, there was no doubt who was the best, and Dahlin won 11-5.
Its biggest advantages before were gold at the European Championships in 2015 and 2017, silver at the 2014 World Cup, and bronze in 2018.
After debuting in 2012, she had big ambitions for the Paralympics in 2016 – and a tearful goodbye to Rio when she had to say thank you after two losses.
– It was disappointing, she says today.
– I’ve gotten a lot better at putting the ball since then. I’ve also gotten better at working with screws rather than percussion. I’ve gotten better physically, too.
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Young Aida was born in Sarajevo before the outbreak of war in the early 1990s. Perhaps her parents felt that they would not be able to take care of her. I was left in a hospital in the Bosnian capital. The little girl was missing her left forearm and left foot.
When she was three years old, she was sent to a rehabilitation center in Igalo, Montenegro. Here begins the story of Aida and Norway. Lars Dahlin from Kristiansand came there. He had to work in the enterprise. Aida was the only one living there permanently. All others came for shorter stays.
After a family council with his wife Anne Tove and daughter Maria, they decided to adopt Aida, and it so happened that she became a Southerner in March 1997.
She teaches everyday sports psychology at the sports college.
– I want to learn how to function mentally in sports. Eventually I will be able to help others too.
The mind is an important part of the game. I myself am very moody, and that can be both a strength and a weakness. I have more temper than most.
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