It was differing fortunes for the host nation on Friday 6th May at the SQY French Para Open.
In the men’s singles Stéphane Messi (class 7) and Lucas Creange (class 11) were very much the prominent names; both upset the order of merit.
The no.4 seed, at the final hurdle, Stéphane Messi beat Thailand’s Chalermpong Punpoo (5-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-9) the first round winner in opposition to Brazil’s Israel Stroh, the top seed (11-7, 11-8, 11-7).
Good form from Stéphane Messi, it was the same from Lucas Creange, the no.3 seed, in the title decider, he overcame Belgium’s Florian van Acker, the top seed (11-6, 11-8, 11-7).
Conversely, for Fabien Lamirault (class 2), it was déjà vu; the top seed, in the group stage he had been beaten by Thailand’s Thirayu Chueawong (9-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-9), in the final it was same again (11-7, 15-13, 11-7).
A surprise outcome for Fabien Lamirault, likewise Mateo Boheas (class 10), the top seed experienced a semi-final defeat when facing Montenegro’s Luka Bakic (2-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-8).
Success for Luca Bakic but no gold; in the final he was beaten by colleague Filip Radovic, the no.2 seed (11-3, 11-8, 11-5).
Similarly, in the women’s singles Alexandra Saint-Pierre (class 5), the no.3 seed, emerged a surprise winner. In a group administered event, she finished ahead of Korea Republic’s Jung Younga, the top seed and Sweden’s Ingela Lundback.
Alas for colleagues Morgan Caillaud (class 6) and Thu Kamkasomphu (class 8), both top seeds, it was not to be the best of days.
An all-play-all event, Morgan Caillaud finished in third position behind Korea Republic’s Moon Seungkeum, the no.4 seed and Sweden’s Cajsa Stadler, the no.5 seed.
Meanwhile, Thu Kamkasomphu was forced to withdraw from proceedings, the event being won by Norway’s Aida Dahlen, the no.2 seed. She accounted for Brazil’s Sophia Kelmer at the final hurdle (13-11, 11-4, 11-7).
Success for Aida Dahlen somewhat contrary to expectations, in the women’s singles it was the same for Thailand’s Wassana Sringam (class 4), Japan’s Nozomi Nakamura (class 10) and Sayuri Mio (class 11).
Notably, in the men’s singles likewise for Denmark’s Peter Rosenmeier (class 6) and Spain’s Ander Cepas (class 9).
Wassana Sringam beat teammate Wijittra Jaion, the top seed, at the final hurdle (3-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-8).
Organised on the group formula, Nozomi Nakamura, the no.2 seed, finished ahead of Turkey’s Merve Demir, the top seed; for Sayuri Mio, the no.3 seed, it was first position with colleague Kanami Furukawa, the top seed, next in line.
Rather differently, Peter Rosenmeier overcame Thailand’s Rungroj Thainiyom, the no.3 seed, to clinch gold (11-8, 15-13, 4-11, 11-8), one round earlier Rungroj Thainiyom having ousted Spain’s Alvaro Valera, the top seed (11-9, 11-13, 11-8, 11-4).
Impressive performances, not to be upstaged, Ander Cepas recorded a final victory against Japan’s Koyo Iwabuchi, the top seed (11-9, 3-11, 11-9, 11-9); a result that avenged an earlier defeat. In the group phase had been beaten by Koyo Iwabuchi (5-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-7).
Surprise outcomes but there were events that went according to the pecking order.
In the men’s singles, Korea Republic’s Kim Hyeonuk (class 1),Turkey’s Abdullah Ozturk (class 4) and Frenchman Thomas Bouvais (class 8) justified their status, as did Germany’s Thomas Schmidberger (class 3) and Thomas Bouvais (class 8).
Gold as anticipated, for the women it was the same for Brazil’s Catia Oliveira (class 1-2) and Korea Republic’s Yoon Jiyu (class 3), alongside Turkey’s Kubra Korkut (class 7) and Nesilhan Kavas (class 9).
Play now continues with the men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles events.
