by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
Competing in Men’s Team Class 6-7, the Thai duo, the second seeds, extended the top seeded Chinese partnership formed by Liao Keli and Yan Shuo, the full five match distance.
Rungroj Thainiyom and Chalermpong Punpoo made the ideal start by winning the doubles (14-12, 11-5, 7-11, 15-13) but that was to prove the sum total of success for the home country; Yan Shuo beat Rungroj Thaimiyom (11-4, 11-5, 11-3), before Liao Keli accounted for Chalermpong Punpoo (11-8, 11-13, 12-14, 11-7, 11-5) to bring matters to a conclusion.
“We were motivated and fought all out for the great remembrance of our late King. Team China, Yan Shuo and Liao Keli were our strongest opponents; they are a model for motivation as well. We did our best today though we lost. I am happy to receive the silver medal for our country.” Rungroj Thainiyom
Success for Yan Shuo meant that he added to earlier success gained in the individual events; it was the same for his Chinese colleague Zhao Shuai, Zhao Yi Qing and Lian Hao.
Zhao Shuai and Peng Weinan joined forces to win Class 8 accounting for Thailand’s Komkrit Charitsat and Panupong Santaya in the final by two matches to nil.
Meanwhile, in group organised events, play administered on an all-play-all basis, in Class 9 Zhao Yi Qing in partnership with Han Yajie finished in first place ahead of Japan’s Nobuyuki Suzuki and Takuya Nakajima. The combination of Hong Kong’s Lam Ka Wai and Kuwait’s Ali Alsanea concluded matters in third position.
Likewise, in Class 10, Lian Hao lining up alongside Ma Shubo and Kong Weijie reserved first place. The Czech Republic’s Ivan Jarabec and Russia’s Pavel Lukyanov finished in runners up spot with third place being claimed by the multi-national formation of Chinese Taipei’s Lin Chun-Ting, Thailand’s Bunpot Sillapakong and Tonnie Heijnen of the Netherlands.
Gold in each instance for the top seeds; it was no different in Class 11, the category for those with a learning difficulty.
Japan’s Takashi Takeda and Ryo Miyauchi ended matters in first place ahead of the Australian pairing of Samuel Von Einem and Rory Carroll; Korea’s Son Byeongjun and Jin Seongmin concluded play in third position.
2017 Thailand Para Open: Latest Results and Forthcoming Matches