by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager
However, as the Men’s Singles events progressed, there were plenty of surprises.
Hungary’s Endre Major emerged as the winner of Class 1; he accounted for Italy’s Andrea Borgato in the final (11-5, 9-11, 11-5, 11-3). One round earlier Andrea Borgato had beaten Switzerland’s Sylvio Keller (7-11, 11-8, 11-6, 3-11, 11-8), the quarter-final winner in opposition to Korea’s Nam Kiwon, the top seed (7-11, 11-8, 11-6, 3-11, 11-8).
Good form from Endre Major, it was the same from Korea’s Baek Youngbook in Class 3; he emerged successful beating Thailand’s Anarak Laoeong in the final (15-13, 11-9, 11-6) very much a player in form. Earlier he had overcome the Czech Republic’s Petr Svatos (11-4, 11-8, 4-11, 11-5)), the quarter-final winner in opposition to Frenchman Florian Merrien (11-9, 11-8, 11-6).
Meanwhile, in Class 4 Rafal Lis emerged the surprise winner. He accounted for Korea’s Kim Junggil in the final (3-11, 16-14, 11-9, 11-9), the quarter-final winner in opposition to Turkey’s Abdullah Ozturk, the top seed (3-11, 11-8, 11-5, 4-11, 11-8).
Notable performances; it was the same in Class 9 from Ukraine’s Lev Kats as it was in Class 11 from Japan’s Koya Kato. At the final hurdle, Lev Kats beat Great Britain’s Ashley Facey-Thompson (7-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-4), the semi-final winner in opposition to Japan’s Kyo Iwabuchi (9-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-6); Koya Kato defeated colleague and top seed, Takeshi Takemori, the top seed, in the final to secure the top prize (11-8, 11-8, 11-9).
2018 Slovakia Para Open: Latest Results