by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager
He was beaten by Italy’s Lorenzo Cordua (11-8, 11-7, 11-9) and by Germany’s Lion Bauer (11-3, 11-7, 11-5); Lion Bauer duly accounted for Lorenzo Cordua (12-10, 11-8, 6-11, 8-11, 11-7) to secure first place.
Problems for Krisztian Gardos, there were no such problems for Great Britain’s Kim Daybell, the no.2 seed, he remained unbeaten and duly booked a semi-final place.
Similarly in Class 3, there was a surprise outcome. Ukraine’s Vasyl Petruniv, the top seed, duly secured first place in his group and progress to the quarter-finals; however, for Russia’s Dacian Makszim, the second seed, he was beaten by Italy’s Rail Galiakberov (9-11, 11-4, 10-12, 11-9, 11-8) and had to settle for runners up spot in the group. A main draw place was thus reserved but progress was short lived; he suffered a first round defeat at the hands of Italy’s Matteo Orsi (11-8, 15-13, 11-6).
Otherwise, the top two names in the Men’s Singles events in each category all ended the day unbeaten.
In Class 1, Korea’s Nam Kiwon and Italy’s Andrea Borgato duly topped their groups as in Class 2 did Ukraine’s Oleksandr Yezyk and Park Jincheol, like Nam Kiwon also from Korea.
Likewise, in Class 4 Korea enjoyed success; Kim Junggil alongside Egypt’s Mohamed Sameh Eid Saleh secured group first places, a situation that also applied in Class 5 to Germany’s Valentin Baus and Serbia’s Mitar Palikuca,
Meanwhile, in the standing categories it was very much the same scenario with Great Britain very much to the fore. In Class 6, the top two seeds, David Wetherill and Paul Karabardak progressed to the semi-final round; whilst in Class 7 Will Bayley alongside Ukraine’s top seeded Maksym Nikolenko secured first positions in their respective groups and quarter-final places.
Similarly in Class 8 Ross Wilson booked his main draw place as in Class 9 did Ashley Facey Thompson; like colleague Will Bayley both started play as the second seeds; not the be outdone Ukraine’s Viktor Didukh and Italy’s Mohamed Amine Kalem, the respective top seeds, duly concluded the day unbeaten.
The individual events in Lignano conclude on Friday 16th March.
Lignano Para Masters: Draws for main events and latest results