by Ian Marshall
Success and a place in the final secured.
“I’m definitely excited to play in the final, it’s been a really tough tournament. Today it was a case of doing the basic stuff well.” Ian Seidenfeld
In Tokyo Ian Seidenfeld is coached by his father Mitchell, himself a player of pedigree, at the Barcelona 1992 Paralympic Games, he won men’s singles class 8 gold.
“I’m very happy, today he played his best match of the tournament; many things that had not gone well, went well today. He was mentally very good; as coach and father, I am very proud of him. We form a good team. He concentrates on playing and I deal with any problems that may occur with umpires or referees; I do the fighting!” Mitchell Seidenfeld
At the final hurdle, a familiar face awaits, he confronts Denmark’s Peter Rosenmeier, the no.2 seed and defending champion; they met in the group stage of proceedings, on that occasion Peter Rosenmeier won in five games (11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-8).
“I’ll be pleased to have another shot at him.” Ian Seidenfeld
Peter Rosenmeier booked his place in the final by overcoming Thailand’s Rungroj Thainiyom, the no.3 seed and London 2012 Paralympic Games gold medallist (11-8, 11-7, 11-13, 11-5).
Finalists known in men’s singles class 6, it was the same in women’s singles class 3 and in women’s singles class 11; in class 6 Slovakia’s Alena Kanova meets China’s Xue Juan, in class 11 Russia’s Elena Prokofeeva opposes Lea Ferney of France.
Alena Kanova secured her place in the gold medal contest by beating Korea Republic’s Li Migyu (11-7, 12-10, 2-11, 11-9); Xue Juan overcame Yoon Jiyu, also from the Korea Republic (14-12, 9-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-8)
Meanwhile, Elena Prokofeeva accounted for Hong Kong’s Wong Ting Ting (9-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-8); Lea Ferney halted the aspirations of Japan’s Maki Shiomi (11-8, 11-6, 12-10).
The men’s singles class 6 final and women’s singles class 11 final will be played later in the day, the women’s singles class 3 gold medal contest on Sunday 29th August.
