Mao Jingdian (C) of China celebrates during the medal presenting ceremony after Women's Singles Class 8 Gold Medal Match of Table Tennis against Thu Kamkasomphou of France at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sept. 12, 2016. Mao Jingdian won the Gold. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng)

RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- China's Mao Jingdian revealed that a note scrawled on her hand was crucial to the successful defense of her Paralympic table tennis singles CL 8 title at the Rio Games on Monday.

The 21-year-old needed just 18 minutes to defeat France's Thu Kamkasomphou 3-0 (11-6, 11-8, 11-3) in the final at Riocentro.

"I wrote, 'Be determined and confident' on the palm of my hand before my first game and I looked at it again last night, but it wasn't there anymore so I wrote it again to remind myself and looked at it before the game," Mao told the Paralympic News Service.

"I knew I had to have confidence in myself and I got so engaged in the match I really started to enjoy it."

Mao, whose impairment stems from a hip injury in 2005, said she was looking forward to celebrating with her family.

"I want to call my dad but I know because of the time difference that he will be sleeping. But I have sent him a text. I am looking forward to going home and eating homemade food made by my dad and I will then go back to school," she added.