There it was, right in front of him. Jenson Van Emburgh, class 3 para table tennis player representing the USA, was in the final of the 2019 Para Pan Am Games this August in Lima, Peru. His opponent was Gabriel Copola of Argentina. Along with a gold medal, the winner would receive direct qualification to the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo. Unfortunately for Van Emburgh, it was not his day, as he was forced to settle for an agonizingly tantalizing silver. "It was very difficult at first to accept I lost in the final at Pan Am," Van Emburgh reflected. "But then I saw the new rankings and I was 12 and I knew I need to go for that one last push to get myself in the best ranking position for Tokyo." Van Emburgh, the top-ranked junior (under 23) class 3 player in the world, rededicated himself to his training. Then, in October, he found himself in the Para Table Tennis Open in Hangzhou China. Needing a strong finish to move up the senior rankings, Van Emburgh battled to emerge from his qualifying group with a second place finish. Once in the main draw, he saw off China's Zhao Ping in straight games to advance to the semifinals, at minimum assuring himself one of the two bronze medals on offer. There, he faced world #1 Feng Panfeng, who justified his top ranking in straight games before replicating the feat in the final. Still, a tie for third would prove to be a great ratings boon to Van Emburgh, who leapt into the world's top ten as a result. "I’m very happy about my latest accomplishments," said Van Emburgh, now ranked ninth in the world. "I’ve been putting in so much work everyday with practicing table tennis and trying to become stronger physically also. I am also feeling more mentally stronger which I am very happy about." With March 31 looming as the cutoff for at-large bids to the Paralympics, Van Emburgh is confident that his recent ascent is no fluke. "If I am healthy and feeling good," said Van Emburgh, "I will always have a chance for a medal.”

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