by Ian Marshall, Editor

However, the players to attract the attention were Brazil’s Catia da Silva Oliveira, Chinese Taipei’s Hsiao Shu-Chin and China’s Gu Xiaodan; all excelled expectations.

Competing in Class 1-2, Catia da Silva Oliveira accounted for Russia’s Nadejda Pushpasheva, the no.3 seed (11-4, 11-7, 11-9), before ousting Italy’s Giadi Rossi, the no.2 seed (11-7, 11-7, 6-11, 5-11, 11-4) to reserve her place in the final. Korea Republic’s Seo Suyeon awaits.

Good form from Catia da Silva Oliveira, it was the same in Class 5 from Gu Xiaodan; at the quarter-final stage she beat Germany’s Sandra Mikolaschek, the no.4 seed (11-6, 11-4, 6-11, 8-11, 11-5) to reserve her place in the penultimate round, where she opposes China’s Zhou Ying, the top seed. In the opposite half of the draw Serbia’s Borislava Peric-Rankovic, the no.2 seed, confronts Zhang Miao, the no.3 seed, also from China and the defending champion.

Notable performances, it was the very same from Hsiao Shu-Chin in Class 5; she reserved her semi-final place courtesy of success in opposition to China’s Chen Xin (7-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-6). She now meets Kang Oejeong in the penultimate round; in the opposite half of the draw, Sweden’s Ingela Lunbäck, the no.2 seed, opposes Israel’s Caroline Tabib, the no.2 seed.

Surprise names to reach the latter stages, not in Class 3; the top four all reserved penultimate round places. Anna-Carin Lundquist meets China’s Li Qian, the no.3 seed and defending champion; the latter’s colleague, Xue Juan, the no.4 seed plays Croatia’s Andela Muzinic, the no.3 seed.

Play in Lasko-Celje at the 2018 ITTF World Para Championships concludes on Saturday 20th October.

2018 World Para Championships: Results and Draws