by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
In Taichung, he finished in second place in his initial stage group; in Mungyeong he did just the same. He was beaten by Korea’s Kim Kwangjin, the top seed (11-6, 12-10, 11-3).

Also, in Taichung he had overcome Japan’s Yoshihisa Takeda in the final (11-2, 11-5, 11-7); in Mungyeong he repeated the success at the semi-final stage but it was a much closer contest. He lost the first two games, before winning the next three to secure victory (4-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-8).

A place in the final booked, once more the Australian was tested; he needed the full five games to end the hopes of Hong Kong’s Lam Ka Wai, the no.4 seed (8-11, 12-10, 11-4, 9-11, 11-6). Earlier at the semi-final stage Lam Ka Wai had afforded Nathan Pellissier somewhat of a favour. He had beaten Kim Kwangjin in straight games (11-6, 11-4, 11-7).

Success as the previous week for Nathan Pellissier, it was the same in the Men’s Singles events for Germany’s Thomas Schmidberger but not for compatriot, Jochen Wollmert.

Just as Nathan Pellissier had followed the Taichung pattern, so did Thomas Schmidberger in Class 3. The top seed, once again he beat colleague and second seed, Jan Guertler, in the final. In Chinese Taipei he had allowed Jan Guertler just 16 points (11-6, 11-2, 11-8); in Taichung it was the same number (11-5, 11-2, 11-9).

Success once again for Thomas Schmidberger, it was not to be a repeat for Jochen Wollmert in Class 7; the winner in Class 6-7 in Taichung and again the top seed, he was beaten by Thailand’s Chalermpong Punpoo, the no.3 seed, in the penultimate round (11-7, 11-5, 11-9). An impressive performance, Chalermpong Punpoo duly maintained his form to secure the title. In the final he beat Hong Kong’s Chen Silu, the no.4 seed (11-13, 11-4, 11-5, 11-7).

A surprise top place for Chalermpong Punpoo, it was the same in Men’s Singles Class 9-10 and in Men’s Singles Class 11. In the former Japan’s Noboyuki Suzuki, the no.4 seed, beat Tonnie Heijnen of the Netherlands, the top seed in the semi-finals (11-6, 11-4, 11-7), before overcoming Thailand’s Bunpot Sillapakong in the closest final of the day to secure gold (4-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-6, 12-10). In the latter, the host nation’s Kim Gitae, the no.2 seed, beat Australia’s Samuel Von Einem, the top seed, the arrest the title (6-11, 4-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-8).

Winners against predictions; in the remaining Men’s Singles events, the outcomes were as expected with the top seeds succeeding.

Furthermore, there was success for Korea; Park Jincheol won Class 1-2, Kim Youngun emerged successful in Class 4.
Similarly, Germany’s Valentin Baus and for Thailand’s Rungroj Thainiyom justified their top seeded billing. Valentin Baus clinched the Class 5 title; Rungroj Thainiyom emerged as the Class 6 champion.

2017 Korea Para Open: Latest Results and Draws