Kimie Bessho

Kimie Bessho (別所キミヱ, Bessho Kimie, born 8 December 1947) is a Japanese para table tennis player who competes in international level events. She was a bronze medallist at the 2014 Asian Para Games and has participated at the Summer Paralympics four times, she was also one of the oldest participants to compete at the 2016 Summer Paralympics aged 68 years old. She is often known to wear butterfly hairclips as a superstition for her tournament matches[1][2] and is referred to as "The Butterfly Lady".[3][4]

Kimie Bessho
Bessho at 2006 World Championships
Personal information
Nickname(s)Shiny
Born (1947-12-08) 8 December 1947
Hiroshima, Japan
Height1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
Weight53 kg (117 lb)
Sport
Country Japan
SportPara table tennis
Disability classC5
ClubDomani Table Tennis Club
Medal record
Para table tennis
Representing  Japan
Asian Championships
Silver medal – second place2017 BeijingWomen's singles C5
Bronze medal – third place2009 AmmanWomen's singles C5
Asian Para Games
Bronze medal – third place2014 IncheonWomen's singles C5

Background

Bessho grew up in Hiroshima, Japan as one of eight children.[3]

When Bessho was 39, her husband died from a short illness and two years later, she was diagnosed with cancer and had to use a wheelchair indefinitely after two operations. She was told at that time that she only had three years to live. Bessho began playing table tennis at the age of 45 after being fascinated by the sport and made her debut appearance at the 2004 Summer Paralympics finishing in fifth place.[5] In 2018, she was injured in two more car accidents, but has continued to play table tennis.[3]

Career records

source[2]

References
  1. "Kimie Bessho - IPTTF Profile". International Para Table Tennis Federation. 8 August 2020.
  2. "Table Tennis - Kimie Bessho". The Nippon Foundation Paralympic Support Centre. 8 August 2020.
  3. Selina Wang and Junko Ogura, CNN Photographs by Shiho Fukada for. "Kimie Bessho: 'The Butterfly Lady' of Paralympic table tennis". CNN. Retrieved 2021-05-25. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  4. "Kimie Bessho: 'The Butterfly Lady' of Paralympic table tennis". Public News. 2021-05-24. Retrieved 2021-05-25.
  5. "Japan's oldest athlete brings her best to the table". Asia One. 14 September 2016.
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