by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Success for Iranildo Espindola on home soil, notably one year earlier in Toronto at the 2015 Parapan Games, he had won Class 2 gold and is one six Brazilians on duty in Buenos Aires who emerged successful in the Canadian city.

Also competing in the Men’s Singles events are Aloisio Lima Junior (Class 1), David Andrade de Freitas (Class 2), Paulo Salmin (Class 7), Luis Guanieri (Class 8) and Carlos Carbinarri Junior (Class 10).

Likewise in Toronto, Chile’s Matias Pino won Class 6, he is on duty in Buenos Aires, a city for which he has a particular liking. Last he completed a full house of three gold medals. He clinched the Junior Men’s Singles Class 6 event for players under 23 years of age, before winning Men’s Singles gold in the same category and, again with Osvaldo Torres Navarrette, the Men’s Team Class 6-7 title.

Notably a direct result of the success was that he was named the Allianz Athlete for the month of November 2016 by the International Paralympic Committee.

Prominent players from foreign shores, from the host nation very much names to note are those of Mauricio Depergola and Gabriel Copola; competing in Men’s Singles Class 3 at the 2015 Parapan Games, Mauricio Depergola won silver, Gabriel Copola, bronze.

Overall, a total of 70 men and 15 women will compete in Buenos Aires. In addition to Argentina and Brazil, entries from Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala and Italy have been received.

Al-Watani Para Open: Latest results and forthcoming matches