Bronze medals last year in Japan and on home soil in Thailand but no further accolades to his name, Kittinan Harnpichai emerged the shining star at the 2024 ITTF United States Para Open in Corpus Christi, play concluding on Thursday 18th January.
The 24-year-old, the no.2 seed, won men’s singles class 4, beating Japan’s Genki Saito, the top seed, in the closest final of the tournament (6-11, 12-10, 11-6, 5-11, 12-10). Later he partnered Anurak Laowong to men’s doubles class 8 success and alongside Panwas Sringam secured mixed doubles class 10 gold.
Stunning performances but was he the player to cause the biggest upsets?
Just under two years ago, having competed in both World and European Para Championships, as well as at the Rio and Tokyo Paralympic Games, Great Britain’s Ashley Facey announced he would be leaving the sport of table tennis to join the British Cycling Development/Foundation team.
Certainly, a difficult decision and more difficult than he realised; some three months ago he returned to the sport deep in his heart, table tennis.
In Corpus Christi, not seeded, competing in men’s singles class 9, he finished in first place in his group, notably accounting for Japan’s Keyo Iwabuchi, the top seed (11-6, 11-5, 11-4), before in the main draw overcoming the host nation’s Tahl Leibovitz (11-7, 10-12, 11-7, 11-9) and colleague Josh Stacey, the no.2 seed (9-11, 11-5, 15-13, 11-7) to seal the title.
“It was a really good win against Koyo, I started well and was really positive. I’ve been training really hard and I’m very proud of how I played. It was good to beat Josh for the first time in an international tournament, it was about time. We obviously train together but I’m glad I won, not just because I beat Josh but because I’ve won my first tournament of 2024 so I’m really happy and I’ve got to keep going now for the next few tournaments.” Ashley Facey
Later Ashley Facey joined forces with Josh Stacey to win men’s doubles class 18.
Two titles for Ashley Facey, it was the same for Korea Republic’s Park Jincheol, Thailand’s Rungroj Thainiyom and Chinese Taipei’s Tian Shiau-Wen.
Favourites for gold, Park Jincheol won men’s singles class 1-2, prior to securing the men’s doubles class 4 title alongside Nam Kiwon.
Likewise, Rungroj Thainiyom secured gold in men’s singles class 6 and in men’s doubles class 14 with Phisit Wangphonphathanasiri.
Similarly, Tian Shiau-Wen prevailed in women’s singles class 6-10, before partnering Su Jin-Sian to claim mixed doubles class 14-20 gold.
Success for Tian Shiau-Wen, also there were successes for colleagues Cheng Ming-Chih and Chen Po-Yen.
Justifying his top seeded position, Cheng Ming-Chih won men’s singles class 5; rather differently, Chen Po-Yen upset the odds to secure the men’s singles class 11 top prize. Crucially, in a group organised event he accounted for Thailand’s Master Techo, the top seed (11-5, 11-2, 11-5).
Silver for Master Techo but Thailand emerged the nation with the most gold.
In addition to the efforts of Kittinan Harnpichai, Rungroj Thainiyom and Phisit Wangphonphathanasiri; Charlermpong Punpoo won men’s singles class 7, Anurak Laowong and Wassana Sringam prevailed in mixed doubles class 7.
Most certainly worthwhile visits for Chinese Taipei and Thailand; it was the same for Great Britain.
Additional to Ashley Facey and Josh Stacey, Aaron McKibbin won men’s singles class 8, Megan Shackleton prevailed in women’s singles class 1-5.
The lion’s share for three countries, Japan and the United States completed the picture. Mahiro Funayama claimed the men’s singles class 10 top prize, Jenson van Emburgh brought smiles to home faces, he won men’s singles class 3.
Play concluded in Corpus Christi, attention now turns to Giza, the four-day ITTF Fa40 Egypt Para Open commences on Wednesday 24th January.
