by Ian Marshall, Editor
The top seed in Class 10, he secured the title at the final expense of Bulgaria’s Denislav Kodjabashev, the no.3 seed (12-10, 11-4, 11-9), having at the semi-final stage beaten Austria’s Kristian Gardos (11-5, 11-6, 11-6).
Success as anticipated; it was the same in Class 9 where Belgium’s Laurens Devos, gold medallist at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, justified his top billing. After beating Japan’s Koyo Iwabuchi (11-5, 12-10, 9-11, 11-6), he overcame Russia’s Iurii Nozdrunov, the no.2 seed (11-8, 11-6, 11-9).
Likewise, in Class 11, it was success for the top seed and more success for Belgium. Florian Van Acker, like Laurens Devos a gold medallist in Rio de Janeiro; after overcoming Australia’s Samuel Von Einem, the no.4 seed (9-11, 11-9, 11-6, 12-10) accounted for Hungary’s Peter Palos the no.2 seed and London Paralympic Games gold medallist (13-11, 11-8,6-11, 11-4) to secure the top prize.
Wins for the top seeds; in Class 6, it was success for the second seeds. In Class 6, Denmark’s Peter Rosenmeier, Rio 2016 Paralympic Games gold medallist, beat Spain’s Alvaro Valera, the top seed and defending champion, to secure the top prize (11-8, 13-11, 12-10). One round earlier he had ended the hopes of Thailand’s Ringroj Thainiyom, the no.3 seed and London 2012 Paralympic Games gold medallist (16-18, 11-8, 11-7, 11-6).
A further title to add to the collection for Peter Rosenmeier, it was the same for Great Britain’s Ross Wilson; the winner earlier in the year at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, the 23 year old secured the Class 8 title. Occupying the no.3 seeded position in the event, after having accounted for Poland’s Marcin Skrzynecki in the semi-finals (11-9, 13-11, 11-8) he beat China’s Zhao Shuai, the no.2 seed, to arrest the title in a dramatic five games contest decided by the very narrowest of margins (12-10, 7-11, 10-12, 14-12, 12-10).
Victory for Ross Wilson, a surprise; the success in Class 7 gained by Spain’s Jordi Morales was an even bigger surprise. Not seeded, after accounting for Egypt’s Moahmed Sayed, the no.4 seed (11-9, 12-10, 11-2), he beat Jean-Paul Montanus of the Netherlands (11-4, 16-14, 11-4) to seal the title.
Play concluded in Lasko-Celje, attention now turns to Almeria; the Spanish Para Open commences on Thursday 15th November.
2018 World Para Championships: Results
