by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
Furthermore, all three gave most impressive performances; not one member of the trio conceded a single individual game, overall it was 12 matches played, 36 games won, none lost!
Competing in Class 1-5, Alena Kanova, after securing first place in her group ahead of Monique Sirgand of France and Norway’s Sabine Femtehjel accounted for Austria’s Helke Koller (11-8, 11-6, 13-11), prior to securing the title at the final expense of Emmanuelle Ferrier, also from France and the no.2 seed (11-5, 12-10, 11-2).
Impressive from Alena Kanova; in a group organised event, it was even more impressive from Zsofia Arloy in Class 6-8. In four matches, she surrendered a mere 35 points; less than three points per game!
She finished ahead of colleague, Laszlone Farkas with Kazakhstan’s Raushan Orynbayeva in third place; next in line came Valerie Rolph of the United States followed by Zhuldyz Yerubayeva, also from Kazakhstan.
Similarly, Karmit Dor displayed no charity. She concluded her initial stage group contests in top spot with Hungary’s Maria Benke and Szilvia Pergene Nagy in respective second and third places. A place in the main draw, she overcame compatriot Inbal Bechar at the semi-final stage (11-7, 11-1, 11-5), before in the title decider accounting for Bettina Bicsak, the no.2 seed (11-6, 11-7, 11-5) and like Maria Benke and Szilvia Pergene Nagy from the host nation.
It was for the trio further titles to add their collection. Zsofia Arloy had won Class 8 in Hungary in 2014, Karmit Dor had secured the Class 8-10 title in Romania in 2015 and has claimed Class 10 gold in Thailand last year.
Notable records of success but both must stand in line behind Alena Kanova for whom somewhat surprisingly it was only her second career Women’s Singles title at a Para Open Championships; her first was last year in Class 3 in Romania.
However, the Class 3 European champion in 1999, 2007 and 2009; World champion in 2002 as well as gold medallist at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games, the 36 year old from Liptovsky Mikulas has the full house of major titles.
Play continues in Eger with the Women’s Team events; play concludes on Sunday 19th March.
2017 Hungarian Para Open: Draws and Latest Results