Evanthia Bournia delighted home supporters, Lucie Hautière of France and the Republic of Korea’s Park Sungjoo excelled expectations; such was the outcome on the opening day of play, Friday 30th September, at the ITTF Greek Para Open 2022 in Argostoli.
Competing in women’s singles class 1-2, in a group organised event, Evanthia Bournia remained unbeaten.
Runners up spot finished in the hands of Italy’s Allegra Magenta, Saudi Arabia’s Maryam Al-Myrisi and Zahra Al-Tala concluded matters in third and fourth positions respectively.
The first event to be decided, in the remaining categories, semi-final places and thus medallists were determined; the one exception being in men’s singles class 8, proceedings having advanced to the quarter-finals. Notably Frenchman, Clément Berthier, the top seed, is on course for a last four place.
Progress for Clément Berthier, it was very much the norm, the exceptions being in men’s singles class 1 where Great Britain’s Rob Davies, the no.2 seed and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games gold medallists had to settle for second place in his group and in women’s singles class 8, the same situation applying to Hungary’s Zsofia Arloy, the top seed.
Zsofia Arloy was beaten by Lucie Hautière (11-2, 119, 9-11, 11-6); Rob Davies by Park Sungjoo (11-8, 11-8, 8-11, 12-10).
However, it was their only defeats of the day, both booked semi-final places and could potentially meet the players who proved their nemesis in the final.
Otherwise, the top seeds, all ended the day unbeaten, all through to the penultimate round.
In the men’s singles wheelchair categories, Hungary’s Endre Major (class 1), Slovakia’s Martin Ludrovsky (class 2) and the Czech Republic’s Petr Svatos (class 3) all advanced, as did Indonesia’s Adyos Astan (class 4) and Great Britain’s Jack Hunter-Spivey (class 5).
Similarly, in the men’s singles standing events Italy’s Matteo Parenzan (class 6), Germany’s Björn Schnake (class 7) and Great Britain’s Josh Stacey (class 9) in addition to Indonesia’s Josh Stacey (class 10), all reserved penultimate round places.
Meanwhile in the women’s events, it was the same for Alexandra Saint-Pierre of France (class 3-5), Great Britain’s Fliss Pickard (class 6-7) and Hungary’s Alexa Svitacs (class 9-10).
Play in the men’s singles and women’s singles events concludes on Saturday 1st October.
