by Ian Marshall
In the final, he meets Hungary’s Peter Palos, the winner in 2012 in London; in the corresponding semi-final, by the very narrowest of margins, he overcame Frenchman, Lucas Creange (14-12, 9-11, 12-10, 9-11, 13-11).
Finalists decided, as the morning session of play concluded on the fourth day of action, in the men’s singles events, it was the same in class 1, class 5, class 8 and class 10.
In class 1, an all Korea Republic final is the verdict. Joo Youngdae beat colleague Nam Kiwon (11-6, 11-3, 11-8), Kim Hyeonuk overcame Great Britain’s Tom Matthews (11-7, 12-10, 11-5).
“I feel I played well. Credit to him, he played really well and he came out on top today but I’ll be back. We’ve got the World Championships next year and I’m sure I’ll see him again there and hopefully I can come out on top next time.” Tom Matthews
Disappointment for Great Britain, likewise in class 5; Jack Hunter-Spivey was beaten by Germany’s Valentin Baus (11-7, 12-10, 11-7). In the final he meets China’s Cao Ningning, the defending champion and winner in opposition Turkey’s Ai Ozturk (11-7, 11-9, 11-9).
“I don’t think it was a match too far today. I felt going in that I could win the match. My level is higher than it has ever been and it’s uncharted territory for me here but Baus played unreal. He’s one of the best players in the world and I can look back and say I’m one of the best players in the world now and that is such a strange feeling. Yesterday was a big win but I had a big win in the group then another win so I definitely have it in the locker to do that. I just think we didn’t quite get it right on the day but he was better than me.” Jack Hunter-Spivey
Noteworthy performances, in class 8 Ukraine and China shared the semi-final honours. Viktor Didukh beat Peng Weinan (12-10, 12-10, 8-11, 7-11, 11-3) but colleague Maksym Nikolenko was beaten by Zhao Shuai (11-9, 13-11, 7-11, 11-9).
Hard fought contests, life was similar in class 10. Mateo Boheas of France beat Indonesia’s David Jacobs (11-9, 11-8, 3-11, 5-11, 11-6), Poland’s Patryk Chojnowski overcame Montenegro’s Filip Radovic (13-11, 11-9, 3-11, 11-5).
Meanwhile in the women’s singles events, the finalists in class 5, class 6 and class 7 were decided.
In class 5, at the semi-final stage, China Zhang Bian beat Korea Republic’s Jung Yinga (11-7, 11-7, 11-8), also from China, Pan Jiamin ended the progress of Jordan’s Khetam Abuawad (11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 11-8.
Similarly, in class 6, Russia’s Maliak Alieva succeded against Germany’s Stefanie Grebe (12-10, 11-6, 11-6), Ukraine’s Maryna Lytovchenko overcame Russia’s Raisa Chebanika (11-3, 11-8, 11-2). In class 7, Kelly van Zon of the Netherlands accounted for Turkey’s Kubra Korkut (11-8, 3-11, 11-9, 11-6), Russia’s Victoriya Safanova prevailed against Anne Barneoud of France (11-8, 11-9, 3-11, 11-5).
The finals of men’s singles class 5, class 10 and 11 plus women’s singles class 5 and 6 will be played on Sunday; men’s singles class 1 and class 8 in addition to women’s singles class 7 will be staged on Monday.
