Repeating the success gained in Tokyo, it is the overriding aim one month hence in Paris; at the ITTF Thailand Para Open, play concluding after four days of action on Wednesday 24th July, prominent names endorsed the fact they are very much on course to achieve their goals.
Staged in Pattaya, a factor 40 tournament for World ranking, gold medallists in Tokyo, Korea Republic’s Joo Youngdae alongside the Chinese quartet comprising Feng Panfeng, Yan Shuo, Zhao Shuai and Mao Jingdian all claimed the top prize.
Competing in the same category as in the Japanese capital city, in the men’s singles Joo Youngdae won class 1, Feng Panfeng class 3, Yan Shuo class 7 and Zhao Shuai class 8.
Similarly in the women’s singles, Mao Jingdian emerged the class 9 winner, having secured the class 8 title in Tokyo.
Very much as expected, the somewhat surprise outcome came in women’s singles class 4 when Zhou Ying, gold in Tokyo, was beaten at the semi-final stage by colleague Gu Xiaodan (11-8, 11-13, 11-9, 11-9.
Impressively Gu Xiaodan accounted for India’s Bhavina Patel in the final (11-8, 11-6, 13-11), a result that suggests an intriguing event in Paris. In Tokyo, Guo Xiaodan was a bronze medallist, Bhavina Patel the silver medallist.
Defeat for Zhou Ying, it was the same for another Tokyo winner; in men’s singles class 11, Hungary’s Peter Palos was beaten at the final hurdle by Korea Republic’s Kim Gitae (11-13, 11-6, 11-8, 11-7), the reigning World champion.
One step lower, there was success for silver medallists in Tokyo.
On duty in the same category in Pattaya, in the men’s singles Korea Republic’s Kim Younggun won class 4, China’s Cao Ningning class 5; for the women, Korea Republic’s Seo Yeon succeeded in class 1-2, China’s Huang Wenjuan in class 8.
Gold for Huang Wenjuan suggests she starts the favourite in Paris, in the Tokyo final she was beaten by Mao Jingdian, now no longer in that class.
Moving one step lower down the Tokyo order of merit, bronze medallists added to their tally.
Most notably in the women’s singles, Korea Republic’s Yoon Jiyu sealed the top prize in class 3, Hong Kong’s Wong Ting Ting secured bronze in class 11; for the men, Korea Republic’s Cha Sooyong concluded matters the runner up in men’s singles class 2, Zhai Xiang, a bronze medallist in class 3.
Contenders for honours in Paris, in the men’s singles, results in Pattaya suggest it is the same Slovakia’s Peter Lovas, Chile’s Ignacio Torres and Japan’s Koyo Iwabuchi as well as for China’s Liu Fu and Lian Hao.
All clinched gold in Pattaya, Peter Lovas won 2, Liu Fu class 5, Ignacio Torres class 6, Koyo Iwabuchi class 9 and Lian Hao class 10.
Likewise in the women’s singles, it was success for Korea Republic’s Kim Seongok in class 7, Hou Chunxiao in class 10.
Only one event did not witness a player en route to Paris claiming gold, the host nation’s Kanokporn Phathumcai prevailed in women’s singles class 6.
Notable names prevalent on the opening two days of action, it was the same as play continued, Mao Jingdian underlining her quality; partnering Liu Meng, she won women’s doubles class 20 and with Zhao Shuai, mixed doubles class 17.
Three titles secured, the only player to achieve the feat, two for Zhao Shuai.
Similarly, Feng Panfeng, Seo Suyeon, Yoon Jiyu, Zhou Ying, Zhang Bian and Huang Wenjuan, each departed with two titles to their names.
Zhou Ying partnered Zhang Bian to women’s doubles gold, before with Feng Panfeng claiming the mixed doubles class 7 title. Likewise, there was mixed doubles gold for Zhang Bian, she partnered Cao Ningning to victory in class 10.
Meanwhile, Seo Suyeon and Yoon Jiyu combined to win women’s doubles class 5, Huang Wenjuan alongside Chen Chao prevailed in mixed doubles class 14.
Titles for China as play concluded; also, there was success for Brazil, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea Republic and Thailand.
Brazil’s Israel Stroh partnered the host nation’s Suriyone Thapaeng to gold in men’s doubles class 14; Hong Kong’s Wong Chi Yin and Lam Yan Yu emerged the mixed doubles class 20 winners, India’s Shubham Wadhwa and Etka Bhyan succeeded in mixed doubles class 4.
In a similar vein, Korea Republic’s Cha Sooyong and Park Jincheol won men’s doubles class 4.
Not to be overshadowed by visitors, the host nation’s Wanchai Chaiwut and Yuttajak Glinbanchuen claimed men’s doubles class 8 gold, Charlermpong Punpoo and Bunpot Sillapong prevailed in men’s doubles class 18, Kanlaya Chaiwut-Kriabklang and Kanoporn Phathumcai succeeded in women’s doubles class 14.
Play concluded in Thailand, attention now turns to France, the greatest tournament of all, play in the table tennis events at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games commences on Thursday 29th August and concludes on Saturday 7th September 2024.
