Frenchman Fabien Lamirault defends his men’s singles class 2 title at the Andalucia 2022 World Para Table Tennis Championships commencing in Granada on Sunday 6th November.
Not only does he defend the precious crown, he aims for three in a row; in addition to Lasko in 2018, he won four years earlier in Beijing.
Undoubtedly, in wheelchair events (classes 1-5), he is one of the most celebrated players of all time and, when we arrive less than two years hence, for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, the goal will be the same as in Granada. He won gold in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro and last year in Tokyo.
Similarly, competing in class 4, a bronze medallist at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, and having succeed in Lasko and Beijing, the hat-trick is the goal for Turkey’s Nesim Turan.
Repeat success, it is the target for one further player from Turkey, Ali Ozturk, bronze medallist in Tokyo, defends his men’s singles class 5 crown.
Prominent names on duty, players who have enjoyed the golden moment, in the men’s singles wheelchair events, they are not alone.
Winner in 2014 in Beijing and gold medallist just over one year ago in Tokyo, competing in class 5, Germany’s Valentin Baus is very much a name to note, as in the same category is that of Norway’s Tommy Urhaug.
Now 42 years old, the self-confessed “old guy” emerged successful in 1998 in Paris and 2006 in Montreux; additionally he struck gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Feats of yesteryear at a World Para Championships the aim, in the men’s singles wheelchair category, there is one more on the Granada entry list. Competing in class 4, Korea Republic’s Kim Young-gun, gold medallist at the Paralympic Games in Beijing and London, won on home soil in 2010 in Gwangju.
Success at the World Para Championships; additionally, there are those on men’s singles wheelchair duty who never enjoyed such accolades but have achieved gold at the Paralympic Games.
Present in class 1, Rob Davies secured the ultimate prize in Rio de Janeiro beating Korea Republic’s Joo Young Dae in final, the player who in Tokyo emerged the winner. Likewise, Slovakia’s Jan Riapos, on duty in class 2, emerged a gold medallist in 2004 in Athens and 2012 in London.
The best at a World Para Championships for both was in 2014 in Beijing; Rob Davies won silver; Jan Riapos secured bronze.
Star names but note those of Great Britain’s Jack Hunter-Spivey and Jensen Van Emburgh from the United States, both players in a rich vein of form. They could well upset established names.
A class 5 athlete, bronze medallist at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, earlier this year, Jack Hunter-Spivey won in Ismailia, prior to succeeding at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Meanwhile, Jensen Van Emburgh prevailed in March in Platja d’Aro and in June in Cancun.
Overall, a total of 138 players compete in the men’s singles wheelchair classes of whom 29 have won medals at either the World Para Championships or Paralympic Games.
Competing in Granada
- Paralympic Games – Medallists – Men’s Singles Class 1-5
- Paralympic Games – Medallists – Men’s Singles – Classes 6-11
- Paralympic Games – Medallists – Women’s Singles Class 1-5
- Paralympic Games – Medallists – Women’s Singles Class 6-11
- World Para Championships – Medallists – Men’s Singles Class 1-5
- World Para Championships – Medallists – Men’s Singles Class 6-11
- World Para Championships – Medallists – Women’s Singles Class 1-5
- World Para Championships – Medallists – Women’s Singles Class 6-11
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