Anticipation growing, the Thailand Para Open is the last chance to test preparations for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, the importance of the tournament being illustrated in the fact that no less than 28 players, who claimed medals just over three years ago in Tokyo and will be present later this year in the French capital city, are named on the entry list.
A Factor 40 tournament for world ranking points, four days of what promises to be high class intense action commences in Pattaya on Sunday 21st July.
Chinese players head the field, the standout name being, Feng Panfeng, in Paris he will be aiming to win no less than his fifth consecutive men’s singles class 3 title!
Just one step behind, colleagues Zhou Ying, Zhang Bian and Mao Jingdian compete in the women singles in Pattaya, in Paris each will be seeking their fourth success, Zhou Ying in class 4, Zhang Bian in class 5, Mao Jingdian in class 9.
Notably for Zhang Bian and Mao Jingdian, they have won at the most recent three Paralympic Games, Zhou Ying secured gold for the first time in 2008 in Beijing but missed put in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.
All start as favourites for gold in Pattaya but for Mao Jingdian life may well prove more testing; her three gold medals were gained in class 8; she has been reclassified and now competes in class 9.
Significant Chinese names on duty in Pattaya, more can be added to list; men’s singles gold medallists in Tokyo, Yan Shuo in class 7, Zhao Shuai in class 8 will be present.
Also, add the names of Cao Ningning and Lian Hao to the Chinese list. In Tokyo, Cao Ningning who won gold in London, emerged a silver medallist; Lian Hao was a member of the successful men’s team that prevailed in class 9-10, a feat earlier achieved in both London and Rio de Janeiro.
Gold in Japan’s capital city, it was the same for Frenchman Fabien Lamirault, Korea Republic’s Joo Youngdae and Hungary’s Peter Palos; all ply their skills in Pattaya.
Fabien Lamirault successfully defended his men’s singles class 2 title; Joo Youngdae went one step further having been the runner up in Rio de Janeiro, Peter Palos, victorious in London, regained the men’s singles class 11 title.
Striving to replicate Tokyo success, there are present in Pattaya, players who seek to progress to higher levels in Paris.
Korea Republic’s Cha Sooyong, men’s singles class 2 bronze in Tokyo, is named on the entry list, as in the women’s singles are compatriots Seo Suyeon, Lee Migyu, Yoon Jiyu and Jung Younga.
In Tokyo, Seo Suyeon was a silver medallist in class 2, Lee Migyu and Yoon Jiyu both secured bronze in class 3, Jung Younga bronze in class 5.
Similarly, for China, Zhai Xiang emerged a men’s singles class 3 bronze medal winner as did Peng Winan in class 8; meanwhile, in the women’s singles Pan Jiamin was a silver medallist in class 5, Huang Wenjuan secured the same colour in class 8.
Adding to Pattaya entry list; in Tokyo, India’s Bhavina Patel secured silver in women’s singles class 4, Hong Kong’s Wong Ting Ting bronze in class 11.
Likewise for the men, Spain’s Jordi Morales and Alvaro Valera combined to claim bronze in men’s singles class 6-7, several years earlier at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games, Valera had struck gold in men’s singles class 9. In Pattaya, in the men’s singles Valera competes in class 6, Morales in class 7.
Worthy visitors, from the host nation names to note are Thirayu Chueawong, Yuttajak Glinbanchuan and Rungroj Thainiyom, all bronze medallists in Tokyo, Thirayu Chueawong and Yuttajak Glinbanchuan in men’s team class 3 bronze medallists, Rungroj Thainiyom in men’s singles class 6.
Memorably, Rungroj Thainiyom won men’s singles class 6 gold in London.
A total of 132 men and 67 women are registered to compete in Pattaya, additional to nine independent athletes, 23 member nations are represented; moreover, players from all five ITTF continents – Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania – compete.
The men’s singles and women’s singles events commence play.
