Players very much in form, Poland’s Karolina Pek and the host nation’s Rungroj Thainiyom head the entry list for the table tennis events at the 2023 World Abilitysport Games, the three-day event, commencing on Wednesday 6th December in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
At the European Para Championships staged earlier this year in Sheffield, Karolina Pek completed a clean sweep of titles, she won women’s singles class 9, before partnering Natalia Partyka to success in women’s doubles class 20 and Piotr Grudzien to gold in mixed doubles class 17.
One month later in October at the Asia Para Games in the Chinese city of Guangzhou, Rungroj Thainiyom emulated the feat.
He won men’s singles class 6, prior to partnering Phisit Wangphonphathanasiri to success in men’s doubles class 8 and Kanlaya Chaiwut-Kriablang to the top prize in mixed doubles class 14.
Additionally, this year both Rungroj Thainiyom succeeded on home soil in Pattaya and in Tokyo, Phisit Wangphonphathanasiri won in the Japanese capital city.
Notable male names from the host nation, it is the same for the women.
Wijittra Jaion won women’s singles class 4 at the Andalucia 2022 World Para Championships, Panwas Sringam was a silver medallist in class 5; Dararart Asayut prevailed in class 2-3 this year in Japan.
An impressive entry from Thailand it is the same from Poland.
Alongside Karolina Pek, Katarzyna Marszal, the 2010 World champion in Gwangju, competes, as in the men’s singles do Maksym Chudzucki, Rafal Czuper, Rafal Lis and Igor Misztal.
On duty at the European Para Championships, Rafal Czuper won class 1 gold, Maksym Chudzicki, class 8 bronze, having in March struck gold in class 7 in Lignano.
Similarly, in May, Igor Misztal claimed gold on home turf in Wladyslawowo, Rafal Lis prevailed in class 4 in March on the Costa Brava and in June in Montenegro.
Notable names and more can be added to the list; Indonesia’s Komet Akbar, gold medallist in Pattaya in men’s singles class 6 plies his skills as does Iraq’s Naylah Al-Dayyeni. She won women’s singles class 6 at this year’s Asian Para Games.
A factor 20 tournament for World ranking, in addition to table tennis, at what is the inaugural World Abilitysport Games, the disciplines included are archery, athletics, swimming, track and road cycling, powerlifting, badminton, shooting, snooker, rowing and wheelchair fencing.