by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Local eyes focused on Khetam Abuawad; they will also be focused on Turkey, a formidable line-up is bound for Amman.

Winners earlier in the year of the Men’s Class 4 title at the 2017 World Para Team Championships in Bratislava will be in action; leading the line is 23 year old Abdullah Ozturk, gold medallist at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. He is supported by Nesim Turan, successful earlier this year in Slovenia and Suleyman Vural, bronze medallist at the 2016 Spanish Para Open.

Likewise the names of Ali Ozturk and Hamza Caliskan, silver medallists in Class 5 in Bratislava, compete in Amman. Notably earlier this year, Ali Ozturk won the Men’s Singles Class 5 event at the European Championships as well as succeeding in both Bayreuth and Spain.

Notable male names from Turkey and there is female name that attracts the attention; Ümran Ertis gold medallist in Singles Class 10 at the 2013 European Para Championships will compete.

Impressive from Turkey, the entry from Egypt is also worthy of note. Gold medallists at African Para Championships are very much in evidence. Ahmed Sayed Mohamed, the Class 7-8 winner on no less than four occasions competes, as does Mohamed Sameh Eid Saleh, three times the winner in Class 4 and on one occasion in Class 3-4.

Also from Egypt, the names of Ehab Fetir and Mamdouth Taman appear; Ehab Fetir won Class 5 at the African Para Championships in 2011, Mamdouth Taman was the bronze medallist in 2013 in the Class 3 event.

Overall 71 men and 14 women will compete in Amman; in addition to Jordan, the national associations represented are Algeria, Egypt, India, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Malaysia, Palestine and Turkey.

Al-Watani Para Open: Latest results and forthcoming matches