by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

At the final hurdle, the 17 year old Romanian accounted for Norway’s Aida Dahlen, the top seed and winner of the Class 8 title at the 2015 European Para Championships in Vejle (11-4, 7-11, 11-4, 11-7), to add to her ever growing array of titles.

In addition to winning Class 6-10 two days ago in Cluj-Napoca; thus retaining the title won one year earlier; some three weeks ago Ioana-Monica Tepelea had struck gold in Class 10 at the Lignano Masters Junior Open in Italy.

Adding to the collection for Ioana-Monica Tepelea; for Valentina Marcheva it was a first; her previous best being in the Slovak Republic when in 1998 reached the final of Class 9 and in 2005 the same round in Class 6-7.

Impressively at the final hurdle she beat Russia’s Maliak Aliva (11-8, 11-6, 11-8), a player who was very much in form. At the semi-final stage, she had ousted Gabriela Constatin, the top seed and like Iona-Monica Tepelea from Romania (11-2, 11-8, 11-3).

Two unexpected Women’s Singles winners; in the remaining events, the outcome was as status predicted.

One day earlier Italy’s Michela Brunelli had won Class 2-3, finishing ahead of Russia’s Nadejda Pushpasheva in a group organised event; one day later Borislava Peric-Rankovic secured the Class 4 title; in an all Serbian final, she overcame Nada Matic, the no.2 seed (11-3, 11-8, 11-7).

Individual events concluded; attention now turns to the team competitions; play concludes on Saturday 25th March.

2017 Romania Para International Open: Junior Tournament – Full Results (Tuesday 21st March)

2017 Romania Para International Open: Individual Events – Full Results (Friday 24th March)

2017 Romania Para International Open: Team Events – Latest Results (Friday 24th March)