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