by Ian Marshall, Editor
Notably in the women’s singles events, Sweden’s Anna-Carin Ahlquist, Korea Republic’s Jung Younga and Kelly van Zon of the Netherlands appear on the entry list as do those of Turkey’s Neslihan Kavas and Thu Kamkasomphou of France.
Successful at the European Para Championships on the most recent four occasions, Anna-Carin Ahlquist struck gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games; in Alexandria, she is the top seed in class 1-3.
Impressive from Carin Ahlquist, even more impressive from Kelly van Zon; the reigning world champion, in addition to London, she also won more recently, three years ago in Rio de Janeiro. She is the top seed in class 7.
Similarly, Jung Younga, Asian Championships gold medallist in 2017, heads the class 4-5 order, Thu Kamkasomphou occupies the same spot in class 8, as does Neslihan Kavas in class 9-10. Pertinently, Thu Kamkasomphou won gold at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games; Nesliham Kavas was a silver medallist four years later in Londn.
Prominent names in the women’s singles event; it is the same in the men’s singles competitions.
Silver medallist at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games and last year at the World Para Championships, Germany’s Thomas Schmidberger is the top name on duty in class 3, as in class 6 is Thailand’s Rungroj Thainiyom, gold medallist at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Likewise successful in Rio de Janeiro, Belgium’s Laurens Devos, who secured gold, heads the class 9 entry; a situation that also applies to Indonesia’s David Jacobs. Winner of men’s singles 40-44 years at the 2018 World Veteran Championships, he is the top seed in class 10.
Celebrated names and you can add more to the list. Turkey’s Abdullah Ozturk is the leading light in class 4, Ali Ozrurk in class 5; at the 2018 World Para Championships, Abdullah Ozturk was a silver medallist, Ali Ozturk one step higher, he claimed gold. Similarly, crowned European champion in 2015, Jean-Paul Montanus of the Netherlands is the most prominent name in class 7.
A total of 65 men and 20 women compete in Alexandria.
2019 Para Egypt Open: Latest Results and Draws
