by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Competing in Class 1-3, a competition organised on a group basis, Matteo Orsi beat Kuwait’s Yaqoub Alqasem (11-2, 11-9, 7-11, 12-10) and Japan’s Yuichiro Kitagawa (11-4, 12-10, 11-8).

Impressive performances, it was the same from Lorenzo Cardua in Class 10; he finished in first position in his group and thus reserved a semi-final place. He accounted for Great Britain’s Sunjay Thakker (11-6, 11-6, 11-3) and Malaysia’s Syahir Mohammad (11-3, 11-5, 11-5).

Disappointment for Great Britain in Class 10 but there was success. Lawrence John and Jack Stockdale, competing in the two remaining groups, remained unbeaten.

Impressively Lawrence John beat Lorenzo Magarelli, also from Italy (11-9, 9-11, 11-4, 12-10), followed by success against Alexandros Diakoymakos of Greece (11-5, 11-9, 11-9). Likewise, Jack Stockdale overcame Russia’s Nikita Perevezchikov (11-5, 11-5, 11-5), Japan’s Takumi Tsujimura (12-10, 15-13, 10-12, 11-7) and Belgium’s Adonis Mylonas (12-10, 14-12, 10-12, 4-11, 11-7).

Unbeaten performances, it was the same in Class 4-5 from Sem Roelofs of the Netherlands and Japan’s Genko Saito, as it was in Class 6 from Croatia’s Pavao Jozic and Germany’s Tim Laue. Both events where there were two groups in the initial stage.

Likewise in Class 7-8, also organised in two stages with two groups on the initial phase; the French trio of Elias Debeyssac, Lewis Dalby and Clement Berthier emerged the unbeaten players.

Meanwhile in Class 9, organised on the group formula; Malaysia’s Chee Chao Ming ended the day as the one unbeaten player.

He accounted for Russia’s Vladislav Balobanov (11-4, 11-8, 11-9), Great Britain’s Tamlan Eastwood (11-3, 13-15, 11-3, 11-5) and Kuwait’s Ali Alsanea (14-12, 11-9, 11-7).

Play in the Lignano Junior Para Open concludes on Tuesday 28th February.

Day One: 2017 Lignano Para Junior Open: Draws and Latest Results