by Ian Marshall, Editor

The wins recorded by Andela Muzinic and Borislava Peric-Rankovic were as anticipated.

Both occupied the top seeded positions; in class 3, Andela Muzinic alongside colleague Helena Dretar, the player she had beaten in the women’s singles class 3 final; in class 4-5, Borislava Peric-Rankovic in harness with Serbian compatriot, Nada Matic. Notably both Serbians are class 4 players.

However, for Maryna Lytovchenko, the class 6 women’s singles champion, the success was somewhat contrary to expectations; competing in class 6-8 in harness with Romania’s Gabriela Costantin, the duo commenced matters as the no.3, seeds. At the semi-final stage they recorded a 2-1 win in opposition to Poland’s Dajana Jsastrzebaska and Katarzyna Marszal, the no.2 seeds. An impressive performance, in the final it was just the same; they emerged successful by the same margin in opposition to the top seeded Russian combination of Raisa Chebanika and Maliak Alieva.

Success contrary to expectations for Maryna Lytovchenko and Gabriela Costantin, it was the same in class 9-10, the Brazilian combination of Danielle Rauen and Jennyfer Marques Parinos upsetting the odds. The no.2 seeds, in the final they secured a 2-1 win in opposition to Germany’s Marlene Reeg and Len Kramm, the 2-0 semi-final winners when facing the top seeded combination of Germany’s Karoline Pek and Sweden’s Anja Handen.

Unexpected gold medallists, in the remaining women’s team events, it was gold for the top seeds; Russia very much in evidence. Nadejda Pushpasheva partnered Argentina’s Maria Costana Garrone to success in class 1-2; Elena Prokofeva and Anzhelika Kosacheva joined forces to secure the class 11 title.

Play concluded in Lignano, the next stop on the Para tournament calendar is Platja d’Aro; the Para Costa Brava Spanish Open commences on Wednesday 20th March.

Lignano Masters Open: Draw and Full Results