by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager
Both wins were as expected, the duo commenced play as the top seeds in their respective groups; however there were upsets.
Thailand was very much to the fore; in the Men’s Singles competitions Niyon Nachai emerged the surprise winner of Class 4, as did Phisit Wagphonphathanasiri in Class 8 and Bunpot Sillapakong in Class 10. At the final hurdle all beat the top seeded name.
Niyon Nachai accounted for Slovakia’s Boris Travnicek (3-11, 12-10, 9-11, 12-10, 11-7), Phisit Wagphonphahanasiri overcame Sweden’s Emil Andersson (11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7). Likewise, Bunpot Sillapakong defeated Bas Hergelink of the Netherlands (11-7, 15-13, 6-11, 11-6).
Similarly in Class 11 the same situation arose; in an all French final; Timothe Ivadi ended the hope of Antoine Zhao (9-11, 11-7, 11-2, 11-9).
Otherwise in the Men’s Singles events it was success for the top seeds. In addition to Iker Sastre and Roberto Rodriguez, Brazil’s Claudiomiro Segatta won Class 5; Rungroj Thainiyom added to Thailand’s title haul by winning Class 6, whilst Jean-Paul Montanus of the Netherlands emerged victorious in Class 7. Not to be left out, Russia’s Iurii Nozdrunov secured the Class 9 title.
Meanwhile, in the Women’s Singles events, Norway’s Merethe Tveiten emerged the one surprise winner; in a Class 6 group organised competition, she finished ahead of Romania’s Gabriela Constantin, the top seed with Sweden’s Caisa Stadler in third place.
One surprise, in remaining Women’s Singles groups, status prevailed.
Wijittra Jaion brought more joy to Thailand by winning Class 3-5; Russia’s Nedejda Pushpasheva secured the Class 1-2 title, while Kelly van Zon of the Netherlands won Class 7. In a similar manner Norway’s Aida Dahlen emerged the Class 8 champion, Romania’s Ioana-Monica Tepelea clinched gold in Class 9-10, whilst in Class 11 the honours finished in the hands of Lea Ferney of France.
The all female organising team in Sant Cugat de Valles (left to right: Katia Brand, Tina Crotta, Iris Serrano, Isabel Molina, Romana Romanov, Ingrid Hegge, Tsipou Maria and Marta Miro (Photo: Antoine Alvarez)
Attention now turns to the Team events and matters are in safe hands; women are in charge.
The Tournament Director is Isabel Molina, Tina Crotta is the Technical Delegate, Maria Tsipou and Katia Brand form the Referees Team, the Classifiers are Romana Romanov, Iris Serrano and Ingrid Hegge; Marta Miro is the computer assistant.
2018 Spanish Para Open: Latest Results and Draws
