05 May 2018

Thailand’s Dararat Asayut alongide Poland’s Dajana Jastrzebska emerged the surprise names to strike gold in the Women’s Singles events at the 2018 Slovakia Para Open in Bratislava on Friday 4th may.

Otherwise it was the leading names, the top seeds that prevailed.

by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager

Notably both Dararat Asayut and Dajana Jastrzebska beat the top seeds in their respective events at the final hurdle.

In Class 3, Dararat Asayut reserved the decision of the previous day. In the initial stage of proceedings, she had finished in second place in her group, she been beaten by Andela Muzinic (14-12, 10-12, 11-4, 11-8). One day later it was a very different story; one after another she beat the top three seeds.

After accounting for Turkey’s Nergiz Altintas, the no.3 seed (4-11, 16-14, 12-10, 10-12, 11-7) and Croatia’s Helena Dretar, the no.2 seed (9-11, 11-4, 11-1, 14-12), she reversed the decision of the a previous day. She beat Andela Muzinic, the top seed, to arrest the title (9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7).

Success against the odds for Dararat Asayut, in Class 8 it was the same for Dajana Jastrzebska. After beating Suzan Klomp of the Netherlands in the penultimate round (11-7, 11-7, 13-11), she overcame Norway’s Aida Dahlen (11-7, 3-11, 12-10, 11-9) to seal the title..

Meanwhile in the remaining events, the favourites established their authority to secure gold.

Korea’s Seo Suyeon won Class 1-2; Serbia’s Borislava Peric-Rankovic, gold medallist at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, secured the Class 4-5 title.

Likewise, in the Standing Classes, the leading names enjoyed success with Turkey very much in evidence.
Kubra Korkut emerged as the Class 7 champion with Class 9 gold finishing in the hands of Neslihan Kavas.

Success for Turkey, otherwise it was very much honours shared. Ukraine’s Maryna Lytovvhenko secured the Class 6 title; Brazil’s Bruna Alexandre emerged as the Class 10 champion with Russia’s Elena Prokofeva reserving the top step of the podium in Class 11.

Team events now follow; play concludes on Sunday 6th May.

2018 Slovakia Para Open: Latest Results

Paralympics Para Table Tennis Aida Dahlen Andela Muzinic Dararat Asayut Dajana Jastrzebska