When he was growing up in China, Jessy Chen probably didn’t envisage a world where he would one day represent Australia at a Paralympic Games.
But after he moved to the Solomon Islands as a teenager, Chen was the victim of a racially-motivated machete attack that left him in a wheelchair.
Chen's life changed for good and out of his near-death experience he has wound up wearing green and gold in Paris.
"I came back from the garden and I didn't see anything," ,” said Chen, who was attacked in the middle of the night.
"Then I woke up in the hospital and it had been three days.
“At that moment my mum didn’t think it would get worse. In my mind, I just thought I was maybe going to stay in the hospital for a week.”
Chen has limited memories of the attack which was part of widespread violence towards Chinese ex-pats in the Solomon Islands.
Chen’s attackers were attempting to loot the factory adjoining his family's house when he was hacked in the back, causing him to suffer a heart attack and significant blood loss.
The 34-year-old, who will open his S3 singles campaign on Sunday (local time), said he harboured no ill will on his attackers.
“You can’t do anything now, it’s been many years already, so for me it’s alright,” he said.
The 34-year-old’s family eventually found a safe haven in Australia after he spent nearly a year in bed recovering and table tennis provided him with a purpose.
“After I started table tennis, I was out of the house a lot more… it helped me a lot,” Chen said.
“It got me busy because when you’re busy you forget something (that’s happened).
“(I played before my accident), a little bit just for fun when I was still at school.
“(Australia) is important, the government helped me in my life and gave me a chance to be stable and comfortable, life is much better in Australia.”
Asked about how he felt as he looked to build on a seventh-placed singles finish at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Chen said: “It’s exciting and this will be another step to get to the next level.
“I don’t feel nervous or anything like that, I enjoy the game and make sure I focus on each and every point.”
