The host nation’s Thiago Gomes and Joyce Oliveira won the first titles to be decided at the ITTF Brazilian Para Open in São Paulo on Friday 7th October.
In events administered on an all-play-all basis, Thiago Gomes secured gold in men’s singles class 11.
Consistently good form, he finished ahead of colleagues Lucas Hansen and Lucas Maciel, Canada’s Mikhail Drozdowski ended matters in fourth place.
Similarly, Joyce Oliveira maintained a perfect record to secure the top prize in women’s singles class 4-5.
Runners up spot was reserved by Argentina’s Nayla Kuell; Chile’s Tamara Leonelli and Peru’s Shirley Aguilar concluded play in third and fourth positions respectively.
Titles decided, in the remaining events, the medallists are known, the colour yet to be determined.
Furthermore, the most prominent names are very much en route to gold.
Also from Brazil, Guilherme Marcio da Costa booked his semi-final place in men’s singles class 1-2, as did Argentina’s Elias Romero in class 5.
Likewise, in a group organised men’s singles class 4 event, the Chile’s Cristian Gonzalez, alongside the home country’s Eziquiel Babes, remained unbeaten.
Progress to the last four without due alarm for leading names in the wheelchair category, it was very much the same in the men’s singles standing events; the arguable exception being in class 7.
Brazil’s Israel Stroh, silver medallist at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games finished in second place in his group, losing to Argentina’s Aleksy Kanuka (4-11, 12-10, 11-9, 4-11, 11-6); a quarter-final place reserved, he beat Chile’s Claudio Bahamondes (11-5, 11-5, 11-2) to claim a penultimate round place.
Otherwise, it was smooth sailing for the leading names. Chile’s Matias Pino (class 6), alongside Brazilians Luiz Manara (class 8), Lucas Carvalho (class 9) and Claudio Massad (class 10) all advanced to the last four.
Progress for notable Brazilian names; it was the same in the women’s singles events yet to be completed.
Catia Oliveira (class 1-2), Sophie Kelmer (class 7-8) and Bruna Alexandre (class 9-10) all ended the day with semi-final places reserved.
All men’s singles and women’s singles events conclude on Saturday 8th October, the day the men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles events commence.
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