by Ian Marshall, Editor
First place contrary to expectations, in Class 1 it was same for Italy’s Federico Falco and for the Korea Republic’s Kim Hyeonuk.
Both remained unbeaten; in their concluding encounters Federico Falco beat Nam Kiwon, the no.4 seed (11-7, 3-11, 11-4, 11-9); after on the opening day accounting for Great Britain’s Tom Matthews, the no.5 seed (11-8, 11-7, 11-6), Kim Hyeonuk concluded his initial stage encounters with success against Italy’s Andrea Borgato (11-9, 8-11, 11-2, 11-8).
Defeats for Rob Davies, Kim Kiwon and Tom Matthews; however, all three ended the day in second positions and thus progressed to the main draw.
Somewhat differently for Joo Youngdae, also from Korea Republic, who had beaten Kim Kiwon in the penultimate round in Rio de Janeiro but had then lost to Rob Davies in the final, there were no such problems. The top seed, he remained unbeaten, accounting for Switzerland’s Sylvio Keller in his concluding contest (11-9, 11-1, 11-6). Likewise in the one remaining group, it was first place the most prominent name; Hungary’s Endre Major, the no.3 seed, beat Great Britain’s Paul Davies (11-4, 11-7, 11-1) to secure pole position.
Similarly, in Class 2 where the leading names were required to complete their group phase matches, there were surprises, the seeded players having to settle for runners up spot. Spain’s Iker Sastre finished ahead of Oleksandr Yezyk, the no.3 seed; Stéphane Molliens one step beyond Korea Republic Republic’s Cha Sooyong, the no.5 seed. Likewise it was first position for Spain’s Iker Sastre, he secured top spot by overcoming Ukraine’s Oleksandr Yezyk, the no.3 seed, in a momentous duel (11-6, 5-11, 14-16, 11-7, 14-12).
“I feel good; I won in a very hard match, three-two. Tough match but I feel strong for the next match. I am not thinking far ahead. I will play match by match and try to win the next one. I’m training hard, I am doing things well.” Iker Sastre
Problems in Class 2 for three seeded players, for the other leading names there were no such difficulties. Frenchman Fabien Lamirault and Poland’s Rafal Czuper, the respective top two seeds, duly completed their first phase matches without defeat as did Slovakia’s Martin Ludrovsky.
Upsets, in Class 5 it was somewhat different. The top five names in the guise of China’s Cao Ningning, Norway’s Tommy Urhaug and Serbia’s Mitar Palikuca duly remained unbeaten to reserve first places in their respective groups as did Turkey’s Ali Ozturk and Germany’s Valentin Baus.
The one surprise was caused by Chinese Taipei’s Cheng Ming-Chih; he beat Great Britain’s Jack Hunter-Spivey, the no.6 seed (12-10, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8) to secure first place; Jack Hunter-Spivey duly concluded matters in second spot.
Play in the main draw commences on Friday 19th October.
2018 World Para Championships: Results and Draws
