by Ian Marshall, Editor
Competing in class 4, on the opening day of play, Sandra Mikolaschek had experienced defeat at the hands of Serbia’s Nada Matic (11-9, 8-11, 6-11, 11-4, 11-6); on the second day, after accounting for Borislava Peric-Rankovic, the top seed, the reigning Paralympic and World champion (12-10, 5-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-9), the German extracted revenge. She accounted for Nada Matic in straight games (11-8, 11-6, 11-7).
Success against the top seed, it was the same for Ingela Lundbäck in class 5 but one round later; she accounted for Jordan’s Khetam Abuawad to seal the title (11-7, 9-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-5).
Otherwise, in the women’s singles events it was the top prize for the top seed.
In group organised events, in class 1-2, Russia’s Nadejda Pushpasheva finished ahead of Serbia’s Ana Prvulovic; in class 9 it was first place for Poland’s Karolina Pek ahead of Germany’s Lena Kramm. Similarly in class 10, Turkey’s Merve Demir emerged the winner, the runners up spot being claimed by Croatia’s Mirjana Lucic.
Silver for Mirjana Lucic, for colleague Andela Muzinic, it was gold. She claimed the class 3 title, beating Slovakia’s Alena Kanova in the final (11-8, 13-11, 11-8). Impressive, it was the same from Russia’s Raisa Chebanika. She concluded matters the class 6 winner. In the title deciding contest she overcame surprise finalist, Great Britain’s Fliss Pickard (11-9, 11-3, 4-11, 11-7), the penultimate round winner in opposition to the host nation’s Katarzyna Marszal, the no.2 seed (11-6, 9-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-2).
“I’m pleased to get another medal but the biggest improvement I made from Slovenia was my approach and application towards matches. I didn’t feel my level was great but it’s nice to win matches in these situations. I felt I had chances in the final, just little things to work on not only when I get back into the training hall but also in the team event here.” Fliss Pickard
Meanwhile, in the one remaining women’s singles event, the finalists were no surprise; Norway’s Aida Dahlen beat Germany’s Juliane Wolf (11-5, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7) to secure the class 7-8 title.
Proceedings continue with the team events, play concludes in Wladyslawowo on Saturday 1st June.
2019 Para Polish Open: Latest results and main draws
