by Ian Marshall, Editor

In class 6, in her opening match and arguably the closest encounter of the day, Najlah Imad Lafta Al-Dayyeni accounted for Great Britain’s Felicity Picard, the top seed (4-11, 11-7, 9-11, 19-17, 12-10), prior to securing first place in the group courtesy of success against Macao’s Lam Oi Man (11-7, 12-10, 11-4).

Disappointment for Felicity Picard but in her first adventure, she had beaten Lam Oi Man (11-3, 9-11, 11-6, 12-10); thus she gained second place and progress to the main draw. In all para tournaments where there are two stages, players finishing in first and second positions in the group phase, advance to the main draw.

Similar scenario

Likewise in class 9, Kim Kunhea excelled; after overcoming Indonesia’s Hana Resti (11-6, 11-7, 11-8), she accounted China’s Xiong Guiyan, the leading name on duty (11-8, 11-7, 6-11, 11-9), prior to concluding matters unbeaten by overcoming Thailand’s Chayanan Settisrikoedkun (11-4, 11-6, 9-11, 11-8).

Similar to Felicity Picard, it was second place in the group for Xiong Guiyan and thus progress to the main draw.

Close decision

Straightforward, for Lin Tzu-Yu the situation was somewhat different. In her opening match of the day she beat Brazil’s Bruna Alexandre, the top seed, in straight games (12-10, 11-6, 11-6) but then in the concluding match in the group lost in five games to China’s Zhao Xiaojing (11-6, 10-12, 11-13, 12-10, 11-1).

Sandwiched in between Bruna Alexandre overcame Zhao Xiaojing in straight games (11-8, 11-8, 11-9); thus games ratio determined the outcome. Lin Tzu-Yu finished in first place (5:3), followed by Bruna Alexandre (3:3) and Zhao Xiaojing (3-5).

Noteworthy performances in the women’s singles event, there was one more; in class 5, Korea Republic’s Jung Younga emerged in a surprise first place. She remained unbeaten, notably accounting for China’s Pan Jiamin, the no.2 seed (11-9, 11-7, 12-10).

Unexpected first places

Meanwhile, in the men’s singles events, the top seeds, all ended the opening day unbeaten but there were surprises; unexpected names secured first group places

In class 1-2, Russia’s Rasul Nazirov beat Slovakia’s Jan Riapos, the no.2 seed and gold medallist at the London 2012 Paralympic Games (11-5, 11-8, 11-6). Likewise in class 4, China’s Shi Yanping alongside Indonesia’s Adyos Astan accounted for the highest rated player in their respective groups, ending the day in first position.

Shi Yanping beat Korea Republic’s Kim Junggil, the no.2 seed (11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 11-3), Adyos Astan accounted for China’s Zhang Yan, the no.3 seed (11-7, 11-7, 11-8). Similarly, in class 5, China’s Zhan Dashun overcame Egypt’s Hassan Tolba, the no.4 seed (11-3, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9).

Significantly, Jan Riapos, Zhang Yan and Hassan Tolba finished in runners up spots and thus advanced to the main draw; alas for Kim Junggil it was fourth position and the end of the road.

More upsets

Also in class 6, there were upsets. Russia’s Mars Gabdullin beat China’s Huang Jiaxin, the no.2 seed (5-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7), the latter’s colleague, Chen Chao accounted for Germany’s Thomas Rau, the no.3 seed (11-9, 9-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-9). Mars Gabdullin and Chen Chao remained unbeaten to secure first positions, for Huang Jiaxin and Thomas Rau it was second position.

Similarly, in class 7, against the odds, also from Russia, Alexei Samsonov finished in first place in his group ahead of Japan’s Masachika Inoue, the no.4 seed, as in class 8 did Thailand’s Phisit Wangphonphathanasiri and China’s Peng Weinan. Notably, Phisit Wangphonphathanasiri beat the host nation’s Ye Chaoqun, the no.2 seed (11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 11-4); Peng Weinan overcame Frenchman, Thomas Bouvais, the no.3 seed (8-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-7).

The individual events conclude on Friday 26th October.

2019 Para China Open: Latest draws and results