Vancouver table tennis player Stephanie Chan won Canada鈥檚 first medal at the Parapan American Games on Saturday.

Chan, Canada鈥檚 oldest athlete in Santiago at 66, clinched a bronze medal when she lost her S6-7 combined class semifinal match to Giselle Munoz of Spain 11-1, 11-4, 11-3 on the official first day of competition.

鈥橳oday I wasn鈥檛 feeling well,鈥� said Chan, who will undergo heart surgery after the Games. 鈥樷�橧 had some problems with my breathing. (Giselle) played well but this heart problem did not allow me to play a lot this year.鈥欌��

Munoz will meet Claudia Perez of Mexico in the gold-medal match. Perez, the defending champion, received a bye to final because she was first in the preliminary round.

Chan is now a six-time medallist at the Parapan Am Games, including one gold, two silver, and three bronze.

鈥樷�橧鈥檓 so excited about the medal,鈥� she added. 鈥樷�橝fter surgery I鈥檒l come again to practice table tennis and be at the next Parapan Ams.鈥欌��

Canadian national team coach Dejan Papic lauded Chan鈥檚 courage.

鈥樷�橲he found the strength to compete once again for the Canadian team,鈥欌�� said Papic. 鈥樷�機onsidering her condition at these Games this may have been her best achievement. She did much more than we expected.鈥欌��

Chan can add to her medal haul later this week when she competes in mixed doubles with Asad Hussain Syed of Toronto.

Canada has a total of 135 athletes in Santiago, competing in 14 different sports.

The Games continue until Nov. 26.

The Canadian Press