by Ian Marshall, Editor

Daniel Gustafsson won Men’s Singles Class 9 accounting for Nigeria’s Tajudeen Agunbiade in the final; a player who was no stranger.

They had met on the opening day in the group phase when Daniel Gustafsson had prevailed in straight games (11-8, 11-6, 14-12), in the title deciding contest life was more exacting; the Swede needed the full five games to secure victory, coming perilously close to defeat in the fourth game (11-6, 8-11, 11-13, 13-11, 11-8).

Earlier at the semi-final stage Daniel Gustafsson had beaten Russia’s Iurii Nozdrunov, the top seed (5-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-8). Equally unexpected, Tajudeen Agunbiade, not named amongst the highly seeded players, had overcome Japan’s Koyo Iwabuchi, the no.4 seed, in the penultimate round (11-7, 8-11, 11-8, 11-6). However, it was at the quarter-final stage when he caused the biggest stir. He ousted China’s Zhao Yi Qing, the no.2 seed, in a dramatic duel concluding with a marathon fifth game (11-9, 11-9, 11-13, 5-11, 16-14).

Good form Daniel Gustafsson; it was the same from Samuel Von Einem. He secured the Men’s Singles Class 11 title beating Korea Republic’s Kim Gitae, the no.2 seed, in the final (7-11, 11-3, 6-11, 11-6, 11-6), having one round earlier ousted Frenchman, Lucas Creange, the top seed (9-11, 11-7, 11-5, 12-10).

Two surprise winners and, in the Men’s Singles standing categories, there was one more. The host nation’s Yan Shuo, the no.2 seed, won Class 7; in the final he beat colleague, Liao Keli, the no.4 seed (11-7, 8-11, 11-4, 11-5) and a man in form. In the penultimate round he had ousted Ukraine’s Mykaylo Popov, the top seed (11-8, 6-11, 11-8, 11-4).

Unexpected outcomes; not in the remaining events in the Men’s Singles standing categories, the top seeds prevailed.

Germany’s Thomas Rau won Class 6, Ukraine’s Viktor Didukh secured the Class 8 title; meanwhile China’s Lian Hao emerged the Class 10 winner.

Proceedings in the individual events concluded, the team competitions now begin; play concludes on Sunday 2nd September.

2018 China Para Open: Latest Draws and Results