Raisa Chebanika completed a remarkable triumph in the women's Singles - Class 6 Table Tennis final at ExCeL yesterday, as her prayers for victory were answered.
The Russian had complex brain surgery less than a year ago after severe headaches led to her being diagnosed with a rare condition that affects the nerve endings in the brain.
Her future at that point was uncertain and qualifying for the London 2012 Paralympic Games was a major victory in itself.
Yesterday she overcame Antonina Khodzynska of Ukraine 3-0 (14-12, 11-2, 11-8) to take the title, and afterwards she could not contain her emotion.
Chebanika said, "I can't believe it, I had very complex surgery last year and there were doubts about me playing here. I prayed to God to win and he answered my prayers.
"As I had been so ill I came here with very low expectations. The best I was hoping for was a bronze medal."