by Ian Marshall, Editor

The INAS Global Games are the world’s biggest sports event for athletes with an intellectual impairment.

Notably in excess of 1,000 athletes are present for the gathering that meets every four years; six sports being on the agenda. Additional to table tennis, the schedule comprises athletics, swimming, rowing, basketball, futsal, tennis and cycling.

Intense competition is the order of the hour with prominent names from the para table tennis world being present.

Prominent names

In addition to Peter Palos, Frenchman Lucas Creange and Australia’s Samuel Von Einem appear on the men’s singles entry list.

Peter Palos was a gold medallist at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, Samuel Von Einem clinched silver three years ago in Rio de Janeiro. Meanwhile, at the recent European Para Championships in Helsingborg, Lucas Creange was a bronze medallist.

Likewise, in the women’s singles events; also named on the entry list is Hong Kong’s Ng Mui Wui alongside Russia’s Anzhelika Kosacheva, Japan’s Kanami Furukawa and colleague Maki Ito.

Significantly, Elena Prokofeva is the reigning European champion having won earlier this year in Helsingborg; in a similar vein, Ng Mui Wui claimed gold earlier this year in Taichung at the 2019 Asian Para Championships. Success,  Kanami Furukawa was crowned Asian champion in 2017 in Beijing, Maki Ito was the runner up this year at the Asian Championships, losing to Ng Mui Wui in the final.

Overall, the INAS Global Games lasts one week; play commenced on Saturday 12th October and will conclude on Saturday 19th October.

2019 INAS Games: Full results and second stage draws