by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
Both Anna-Carin Ahlquist and Joyce Oliveira overcame French adversaries at the final hurdle; on duty in Class 2-3, Anna-Carin Ahlquist accounted for Claire Launay (11-3, 11-4, 11-1), in Class 4-5 Joyce Oliveira overcame Monique Sirgand (11-4, 11-3, 11-5).
The win for Anna-Carin Ahlquist adds to her already extensive list of titles. Competing in Class 3, she was the gold medallist at the London 2012 Paralympic Games; earlier in 2011 she had been crowned European champion, a title she regained in 2015 in Veijle, Denmark. Additionally in the same year she secured the top prize in Argentina at the Copa Tango before in 2016 winning in Lignano and Slovenia.
Likewise Joyce Oliveira extended to her list of titles but the win recorded in El Prat de Llobregat was her first at an open international tournament and her first outside the Americas.
In 2011 and 2015, she won the Class 4 event at the Para Pan American Games having sandwiched in between in 2013 secured the Class 4-5 top prize at the Para Pan American Championships.
Similarly in Class 9-10 for Shella Dwi Radayana it was her first such title on foreign soil; last year in Karanganyar she had won gold in Class 9-10 at both the Indonesia Para Junior Open and the Indonesia Para Open. In El Prat de Llobregat, in a group organised event, she finished ahead of Japan’s Keiko Ishikawa and Thailand’s Kulsasiporn Thanapornviwat,
Meanwhile for Sumalee Suangtho it was a first. In a group organised event, she withstood a strong Swedish challenge, Smilla Sands and Emilie Endre being the respective silver and bronze medallists.
Likewise for Kanami Furukawa it was an inaugural win and there was an element of revenge. In the group stage, she lost to Magali Rousset of France and had to settle for second place; one day later they met in the final; Kanami Furukawa turned the tables, she beat her nemesis in four games (11-5, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7) to secure the top prize.
Individual events over, attention now turns to the team competition; play concludes on Sunday 11th June.
Spanish Para Open: Draw and Latest Results