10 Oct 2016

Bronze medallist in the Women’s Singles events at the recent Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Korea’s Jung Younga in Class 5 and Josephine Medina of the Philippines in Class 8, both justified their status on the first day of play, Sunday 9th October at the 2016 Thailand Para Open in Pattaya.

Jung Younga, the top seed in Class 4-5, emerged successful in her opening matches in a group organised event, whilst Josephine Medina topped her group in Class 6-8 to reserve her place in the semi-finals.

by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Both gave most impressive performances completing the day without the loss of a singles game.

Jung Younga accounted for Chinese Taipei’s Lee Ya-Chi (11-5, 11-5, 11-5) and Russia’s Aleksandra Vasileva (11-5, 11-3, 11-4); whilst Josephine Medina was in an equally unrepentant mood. She overcame Macao’s Lam Oi Man (11-3, 11-4, 11-4), Singapore’s Lim Siang Kim (11-2, 11-1, 11-4) and the host nation’s Kanlaya Kriabklang (11-1, 11-3, 11-6) to end a most successful day.

Likewise in the Men’s Singles event, the host nation’s Rio 2016 Men’s Team Class 3 bronze medallists, Anurak Laowong and Yuttajak Glinbanchuen, enjoyed a successful day.

Competing in Class 3, Anurak Laowong, the top seed, beat Lebanon’s Elie El-Rahbany (11-8, 11-6, 11-5) and Australia’s Mark Harris (11-2, 11-7, 11-4) to advance to the second stage. Likewise, Yuttajak Glinbanchuen, the second seed, overcame Thailand’s Paitoon Sae Jew (11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 11-9) and Korea’s Lim Hangseung (11-9, 11-2, 13-11).

Success for Anurak Laowong and Yuttajak Glinbanchuen; it was the same for colleague Rungroj Thainiyom, the Men’s Singles Class 6 bronze medallist in Rio de Janeiro.

Competing in the same Class on home soil and occupying the top seeded position he beat Yasser Hussaini, like Mark Harris from Australia (11-7, 11-7, 11-3) and Japan’s Junki Itai (11-7, 11-8, 11-7), to reserve his place in the main draw.

The Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles events conclude on Monday 10th October.

 2016 Thailand Para Open Championships: Latest results from Pattaya

Paralympics 2016 Thailand Para Open Rungroj Thainiyom Anurak Laowong Jung Younga Josephine Medina Yuttajak Glinbanchuen