by Ian Marshall
Peter Palos competes in men’s singles class 11 an event in which two host nation players have debts to settle. The names of Lucas Creange and Antoine Zhao both appear on the entry list.
In Tokyo, Lucas Creange was beaten by Peter Palos at the semi-final stage in what for the neutral was one of the best matches in the tournament; he experienced defeat in a contest that could not have been closer, every game decided by the minimal margin (14-12, 9-11, 12-10, 9-11, 13-11).
Meanwhile, on the Costa Brava, Antoine Zhao experienced defeat in the final when facing Peter Palos, a contest very different to Tokyo; a straight games verdict was the decision (11-9, 11-1, 11-3).
Maksym Chudzicki
Likewise, Poland’s Maksym Chudzicki enjoyed success in Tokyo and on the Costa Brava; he competes in Saint Quentin en Yvelines.
Competing in men’s singles class 7, he was a bronze medallist in Tokyo, gold medallist on the Costa Brava.
Similar to Peter Palos, Maksym Chudzicki needs to be aware; on the Costa Brava he beat Great Britain’s Alexander Bland in the penultimate round (11-9, 11-8, 11-8), colleague Michal Deigsler in the final (5-11, 11-9, 11-13, 11-5, 11-5).
Both Alexander Bland and Michal Deigsler compete in Saint Quentin en Yvelines.
Avenging defeats
Seeking to avenge October defeats; it is the same when class 10 players are involved.
Like Maksym Chudzicki from Poland, Igor Misztal and Pawel Wlodyka could well cross swords again; on the Costa Brava, Igor Misztal prevailed when they met in the final (11-4, 11-7, 11-7).
Gold on the Costa Brava, it was the same for Norway’s Tommy Urhaug, in men’s singles class 4-5, a situation which also applied to Frenchman Esteban Herrault. He won men’s singles class 6.
Notable names
Prominent names, it is the same in the women’s singles. In Tokyo Hungary’s Alexa Svitacs secured bronze in class 9, Lea Ferney, silver in class 11; both compete in Saint Quentin en Yvelines.
Meanwhile, winners on the Costa Rica, from France, Alexandra Saint-Pierre alongside Great Britain’s Felicity Pickard and Germany’s Marlene Reeg all compete.
Alexandra Saint-Pierre won class 2-5, Felicity Pickard, class 6; Marlene Reeg class 5-10.
Notably, in a group organised event Felicity Pickard finished ahead of the Polish duo comprising Katarzyna Marzal and Barbara Jablonska, both are in duty in the Paris suburb.
A total of 124 men and 44 women, representing 25 member associations, will compete at the SQY French Para Open.
