Players who have enjoyed outstanding success on the global stage, success at the very highest levels, appear prominently on the entry list at the forthcoming I Feel Slovenia Open Thermana Lasko 2024; a five-day tournament play commences on Tuesday 7th May.
A factor 40 event for World ranking points, a major tournament in its own right, but as with all such current events, eyes focus on three months hence, the Paris 2014 Paralympic Games.
In the men’s events, the name of Belgium’s Laurens Devos (class 9) stands out, the current Paralympic Games, World and European champion; significantly a player in form, he emerged successful at the recently completed ITTF Montenegro Para Open.
Similarly, for the women, Ukraine’s Maryna Lytovchenko (class 6) and Australia’s Yang Qian (class 10) appear on the entry list; like Laurens Devos, they hold the most prestigious titles the sport has to offer. In addition to being the respective European and Oceania champions, each secured gold at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and at the Analucia 2022 World Paralympic Championships.
Stand out names and there more on the Lasko entry list who have enjoyed recent high-level success.
Notably, Frenchman, Fabien Lamirault (class 2) competes, the current Paralympic Games and World champion.
Additionally, Korea Republic’s Joo Youngdae (class 1), Turkey’s Abdullah Ozturk (class 4) and Hungary’s Peter Palos (class 11) ply their skills in Slovenia; all struck gold in Tokyo, as in the women’s singles did Australia’s Lei Li Na (class 9).
Furthermore, both Joo Youngdae and Lei Li Na prevailed in Montenegro, endorsing the fact they have no intention of relinquishing their hard-earned Paralympic Games titles.
Prominent names by the score, Italy’s Matteo Parenzan (class 6), Great Britain’s Will Bayley (class 7) are named in the men’s singles, both are reigning World and European champions.
In a similar vein, in the women’s singles, Italy’s Giada Rossi, the current World and European champion, competes as do four further reigning World champions; Thailand’s Wijittra Jaion (class 4) and Turkey’s Kubra Korkut (class 7) are listed alongside the French duo of Alexandra Saint-Pierre (class 5) and Thu Kamkasomphu (class 8).
Meanwhile, not to be overshowed, there are plenty of inform players in action, winners less than a week ago in Montenegro.
Korea Republic’s Park Jincheol (class 2) and Kim Junggil (class 4) participate in the men’s singles as does Jenson van Emburgh of the United States (class 3) and Chile’s Matias Pino (class 6); they will be present alongside Montenegro’s Filip Radovic (class 10) and Belgium’s Florian van Acker (class 11).
In a similar vein, the women’s singles will witness Korea Republic Seo Suyeon (class 2) and Moon Sunghye (class 5) in action, as well as Croatia’s Andela Muzinic (class 3) and Denmark’s Nora Korneliussen (class 7).
Quite simply the entry is mouthwatering both in terms of quality and quantity; no less than 179 men and 93 women, will compete.
The biggest entry of the year, all 11 events in each of the men’s singles and women’s singles are scheduled, five in each of the men’s doubles and women’s doubles, seven in the mixed doubles.
Overall, a staggering 39 events; that’s eight more than it the forthcoming Paria 2024 Paralympic Games!
A busy and tension packed four days ahead in Lasko.
