by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
The 42 year old from Amman beat Serbia’s Borislava Peric-Rankovic, the top seed and gold medallist at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, to win Class 4-5; the no.2 seed at the final hurdle, she emerged successful in four games (11-8, 7-11, 13-11, 11-9).
An outstanding efforts from the Jordanian, from Dorota Buclaw, Olga Komleva-Gorshkaleva and Elena Profofeva it was just the same.
Similar to Khetam Abuawad, occupying the no.2 seeded spot, Dorota Buclaw secured the Class 1-2 title at the final expense of Isabelle Lafaye of France in a contest decided by the very narrowest of margins in the deciding game (11-9, 12-10, 8-11, 7-11, 12-10). Furthermore, Isabelle Lafaye was a player in form; at the semi-final stage she had ousted Russia’s Nadejda Pushpasheva, the top seed (11-5, 6-11, 11-5, 14-12).
Good form from Dorota Buclaw; likewise Olga Komleva-Gorshkaleva rose to the occasion; not listed amongst the leading names, she beat Turkey’s Neslihan Kavas, the top seed (11-9, 11-8, 14-12) to emerge as the Class 9 winner.
Meanwhile, not to be upstaged Elena Prokofeva, the no.2 seed, upset the order of merit to win Class 11. In the final she overcame Japan’s Sayuri Mio (11-6, 11-7, 11-4), a player who had excelled all expectations to reach the final. At the quarter-final stage she had beaten Russia’s Natalya Kosmina, the top seed (10-12, 11-4, 14-12, 11-7), before reserving her place in the final courtesy of success against Anzhelika Kosacheva (8-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-6).
Surprises, not in the remaining events where the top seeds prevailed; Croatia’s Andela Muzinic won Class 3, Croatia’s Sandra Paovic secured the Class 6 title, whilst Kelly van Zon of the Netherlands emerged victorious in Class 7.
Likewise in Class 8 it was success for Thu Kamkasomphu, as it was in Class 10 for Brazil’s Bruna Alexandre.
Play in the individual events concluded, attention now turns to the team competitions; play concludes on Tuesday 9th May.
Photos: Urban Urbanc/Sportida
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