09 Oct 2018

Ding Ning is the reigning Olympic champion, World champion and most recently winner of the Uncle Pop 2018 Women’s World Cup but even she must stand in line when compared with achievements with Chinese compatriots Zhang Bian and Mao Jingdian.

Just as Ding Ning added to her incredible list of titles some ten days ago in Chengdu, so on Tuesday 9th October did Zhang Bian and Mao Jingdian at the 2018 Asian Para Games in the Indonesian capital city of Jakarta.

by Ian Marshall, Editor

Each occupying the top seeded position in their respective events, Zhang Bian after recording a semi-final success against colleague Pan Jiamin (8-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-7), accounted for Jordan’s Khetam Abuawad, the no.2 seed (11-4, 11-4, 11-5) to arrest the Women’s Singles Class 5 title.

At the same time, Mao Jingdian secured Women’s Singles Class 8 gold; in the final she beat Josephine Medina of the Philippines, the no.2 seed, after having ousted Japan’s Yuri Tomono in the penultimate round (11-13, 11-3, 11-5, 11-3).

The results mean that both completed successful defences of the titles won four years ago in Incheon; moreover, Mao Jingdian has struck gold at every Asian Para Games; the multi-sport gathering was first staged in 2010 in Guangzhou.

Furthermore, both were gold medallists at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games, both struck gold at the 2014 World Championships in Beijing; at the Asian Championships in 2015 in Amman both succeeded, whilst in addition Zhang Bian won in 2013, Mao Jingdian in 2017; on each occasion Beijing being the destination.

Success upon success for Zhang Bian and Mao Jingdian in the Women’s Singles events on the fourth day of play; it was the same for their colleague, Wang Rui; the winner of Women’s Singles Class 6-7 four years ago in Incheon and last year successful in the same category at the Asian Para Championships. She secured the Class 7 title; the no.2 seed, after recording a semi-final win in opposition to Hong Kong’s Chiu Kan Shan (14-12, 11-5, 11-4), she beat Korea Republic’s Kim Seongok, the top seed (7-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-6) to secure the top prize.

Titles for China as the Women’s Singles events came to a close on the fourth day of play; Xiong Guiyan and Fan Lei added to the list. Xiong Guiyan won Class 9, Fan Lei secured the Class 10 title. In a group organised event, Xiong Guiyan finished ahead of Korea Republic’s Kim Kunhea and Thailand’s Chayanan Settisrikoedkun; Fan Lei, following success against colleague Zhao Xiaojing, the no.2 seed (11-6, 9-11, 11-3, 1-11, 12-10) beat Chinese Taipei’s Tian Shiau Wen, to reserve the top step of the podium (6-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-3).

Both Xiong Guiyan and Fan Lei commenced play as the top seeds; the Women’s Singles events completed, the Women’s Doubles now follows.

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