The full house, the maximum possible three titles to their names, India’s Bhavina Hasmukbhai Patel, Romania’s Ioana-Monica Tepelea and Lucie Hautière from France emerged the most successful players on duty at the 2023 Egypt Para Open, play concluding in Giza on Monday 27th February.
All commenced proceedings the leading names in their respective classes; all responded in style.
A somewhat surprise silver medallist at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games; Bhavina Hasmukbhai Patel underlined her quality. She secured the women’s singles class 3-5 title beating Sonalben Manubhai Patel in an all-Indian final (13-11, 11-6, 13-11), the player with whom later she was to win women’s doubles class 10.
Concluding matters, Bhavina Hasmukbhai Patel partnered Jashyant Dalsangbhai Chaudhary to gold in mixed doubles class 10; a feat emulated by Sonalben Manubhai Patel. She allied with Ramesh Vajabhai Chaudhary to reserve the mixed doubles class 7 top prize.
Undoubtedly, Bhavina Hasmukbhai Patel and Sonalben Manubhai Patel, who are not related, have a special place in their hearts for Egypt; last year in the women’s singles, Bhavina won gold in class 4-5, Sonalben in class 2-3.
Imposing performances, it was no different from Ioana-Monica Tepelea, who claimed her first women’s singles title at an open international tournament, and for Lucie Hautière, the 2022 women’s singles class 8 winner.
On the concluding day of play, they combined to win women’s doubles class 20, after earlier enjoying mixed doubles success. Competing in group organised events, in class 17, Lucie Hautière prevailed in harness with compatriot Lucas Didier, Ioana-Monica Tepelea alongside Japan’s Arufuahirokazu Tateishi. One day earlier in the women’s singles, Lucie Hautière had won class 8, Ioana-Monica Tepelea, class 9-10.
Unbeaten throughout the three days, it was almost the same for Frenchman, François Geuljans.
He won men’s singles class 3, before in partnership with colleagues proving a worthy foil. He secured men’s doubles class 8 gold alongside compatriot Emeric Martin, the men’s singles class 4 winner, but fell one step short in mixed doubles class 7. Pairing with Flora Vautier; silver was the end result.
Nevertheless, a worthy reward, as it was for Frenchmen Esteban Herrault and Thomas Bouvais, alongside the host nation’s Sayed Youssef; all departed with two titles to their names.
Esteban Herrault won men’s singles class 6, prior to achieving men’s doubles class 14 success alongside Clément Berthier; somewhat similarly, Thomas Bouvais allied with a compatriot Lucas Didier to win men’s doubles class 18, having on the second day of action claimed men’s singles class 8 gold.
In a likewise vein, maintaining good form, Sayed Youssef flew the flag for Egypt; on the final day of play he won mixed doubles class 14 alongside colleague Hanna Hammad, prior to claiming the men’s singles class 7 top prize.
Not to be overshadowed on home soil by Sayed Youssef, Ehab Fetir won men’s singles class 5, Abdelrahman Abdelwahab, class 10.
Meanwhile, for those with longer journeys, in the men’s singles, India’s Jehan Dorab Madam secured class 1 gold, Frenchman Julien Michaud prevailed in class 2, Sri Lanka’s Deshappriya Pitiyage Don Silva Dinesh in class 9. Also from foreign shores, in the women’s singles, it was success in class 1-2 for Evanthia Eirini Bournia of Greece, in class 6-7 for Romania’s Camelia Ciripan.
Notably for Jehan Dorab Madan, Julien Michaud and Camelia Ciripan it was their first such titles at an open international tournament.
Play concluded in Gizi, eyes now turn to Platja d’Aro; the three-day 2023 Costa Brava Para Open commences on Thursday 9th March.
- 2023 Egypt Para Open: Podium Places – 2023 Egypt Para Open
- 2023 Egypt Para Open: Complete Results
