Silver medallist at both the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, the same colour the reward earlier this year in Italy, Spain and Montenegro; at last, for Australia’s Samuel von Einem, the colour turned to gold.
At the I Feel Slovenia Open Thermana Laško, proceedings concluding on Saturday 11th May, he won men’s singles class 11, in so doing not only did he laid the gremlins to rest; he turned the tables.
Not listed amongst the highly seeded names, in the group stage he was beaten by Frenchman Lucas Creange, the no.3 seed (11-8, 4-11, 7-11, 11-3, 11-9). Later in the final he reversed the decision (11-8, 8-11, 11-4, 11-5), notably one round earlier having ousted Korea Republic’s Kim Gitae, the reigning World champion (11-5, 11-7, 11-6).
Success contrary to status, it was the same for Korea Republic’s Kim Hyeonuk and Moon Sunghye, as it was for Great Britain’s Bly Twomey and Chile’s Florencia Perez.
Competing in men’s singles class 1, after accounting for colleague Kim Hakjin, the top seed (11-6, 12-10, 11-9), Kim Hyeonuk, the no.3 seed, overcame Great Britain’s Tom Matthews to seal the title (11-8, 5-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-7). A first title of the year for Kim Hyeonuk but no great surprise; in 2018 he was crowned World champion.
A first of the year for Kim Hyeonuk, it was the same in women’s singles class 8 for Florencia Perez; not listed amongst the leading names, gold medallist at the 2023 Para Pan American Games, she beat Germany’s Juliane Wolf (11-2, 11-5, 11-5) to secure the top prize. Notably at the semi-final stage Julian Wolf had beaten Norway’s Aida Dahlen, the top seed (8-11, 13, 11-7, 12-10).
Somewhat differently for Moon Sunghye and Bly Twomey it was a continuation of recent good form.
Bly Twomey, the no.3 seed, who had won earlier in the year in Italy and Poland, emerged successful in women’s singles class 7. She overcame Sweden’s Smila Sand (11-7, 11-6, 11-1) to seal the title.
A comfortable win, the semi-final very different; in a dramatic contest she ousted Turkey’s Kubra Korkut, the top seed and World champion (7-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 14-12).
Drama for Bly Twomey, it was somewhat the same for Moon Sunghye, the winner one week earlier in Montenegro; in the group stage she lost to Alexandra Saint-Pierre of France, the top seed and reigning World champion (3-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-7).
However, in the opening group match Sweden’s Ingela Lunbäck had overcome Alexandra Saint-Pierre (11-9, 11-5, 13-11) before in the concluding initial phase contest losing to Moon Sunghye (11-4, 11-6, 12-10). Thus, on games ratio it was first place for Moon Sunghye (4:3), followed by Ingela Lunbäck (3:3) and Alexandra Saint-Pierre (3:4).
A place in the main draw reserved, Moon Sunghye accounted for Israel’s Caroline Tabib (11-8, 11-7, 11-13, 11-6) followed by success against colleague Jung Younga, the no.2 seed, to seal the title (11-7, 11-8, 10-12, 11-7).
Wins that bode well with the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games ever closer; it was the same for those who have enjoyed success at the very highest level.
In the men’s singles, gold medallists at Paralympic Games, Frenchman Fabien Lamirault (class 2), Great Britain’s Will Bayley (class 7) and Belgium’s Laurens Devos (class 9) claimed titles.
Also, there was success for prominent names in the guise of Thailand’s Wanchai Chaiwut (class 4), Chinese Taipei’s Cheng Ming-Ching (class 5), Italy’s Matteo Parenzan (class 6) and Montenegro’s Filip Radovic (class 10).
Noteworthy names to the fore, there was success for players in form. Jenson van Emburgh (class 3) and Frenchman, Clément Berthier (class 8) struck gold for the fourth time this year!
Both won last week in Montenegro, additionally Jenson van Emburgh prevailed in the United States and Spain, Clément Berthier in Egypt and Brazil.
Similarly, the women’s singles, the top seeds asserted authority. In the wheelchair events it was success for Italy’s Giada Rossi (class 1-2), Korea Republic’s Yoon Jiyu (class 3) and Serbia’s Borislava Peric-Rankovic (class 4).
Likewise in the standing categories, gold was secured by Maryna Lytovchenko in (class 6), Turkey’s Ebru Acer (class 11) in addition to the Australian duo of Lei Li Na (class 9) and Yang Qian (class 10).
Overall, Yoon Jiyu, she emerged the most successful player on duty in Laško, the only player to secure the full house of three titles. Additional to her women’s singles success, she enjoyed success in harness with Korean colleagues. She partnered Seo Yeon to women’s doubles class 5 gold, Kim Junggil to the top prize in mixed doubles class 7.
In addition, Seo Suyeon secured the mixed doubles class 4 title partnering compatriot Park Jincheol.
Two titles for Seo Suyeon, partnering teammates, it was the same for Japan’s Nanako Hazeyama Clément Berthier and Wanchai Chaiwut. Competing in class 22, Nanako Hazeyama partnered Ayuni Ota to women’s doubles gold, Hajima Hara to the mixed doubles outcome.
Rather differently, Wanchai Chaiwut partnered Yuttajak Glinbanchuen to the men’s doubles class 8 top prize, Clément Berthier joined forces with Morgan Caillaud to win mixed doubles class 14 gold, their fourth such title this year.
Otherwise, it was honours shared.
In the men’s doubles it was gold for Korea Republic’s Jang Youngjin and Joo Youngdae (class 4), Sweden’s Sam Gustafsson and Jonas Hansson (class 14), as well as for Great Britain’s Aaron McKibbin and Joshua Stacey (class 18).
Meanwhile, in the women’s doubles the top prize was claimed by Turkey’s Nergiz Altintas and Irem Oluk (class 10), Norway’s Aida Dahlen and Merve Tveiten (class 14) in addition to Chinese Taipei’s Lin Tzu-Yu and Tian Shiau-Wen (class 20).
Not to be overlooked, in the mixed doubles Turkey’s Ali Ozturk and Irem Oluk won class 10, Poland’s Igor Misztal and Katarzyna Marszal class 17.
lay concluded in Laško, eyes now turn to Pattaya in Thailand; the Paralympic World Qualification tournament takes place from Thursday 23rd to Saturday 25th May.
