In the men’s singles events, Feng Panfeng beat compatriot, Zhai Xiang, to secure the class 3 title; Cao Ningning accounted for Chinese Taipei’s Cheng Ming-Chih to emerge the class 5 champion.

Similarly, in the women’s singles competitions, Liu Jing claimed the class 1-2 title by repeating the feat of the gold medal contest in Rio de Janeiro; she beat Korea Republic’s Seo Suyeon (9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7), a result that meant the silver medallist of three years ago had to settle for third place a group organised event behind Thailand’s Chilchitraryak Bootwansirina.

Good form from Liu Jing; it was the same in class 5 from Zhang Bian as it was in class 8 from Mao Jingdian. At the final hurdle, each accounted for a colleague; Zhang Bian beat Pan Jiamin (11-5, 5-11, 11-3, 11-3), Mao Jingdian overcame Huang Wenjuan (11-5, 11-6, 11-7).

Success for Rio gold medallists but there was a casualty; in class 9 an all Chinese final witnessed defeat for Liu Meng at the hands of Xiong Guiyan.

Medal winners progress

Passports to Tokyo, it was the same for other Rio medal winners who had progressed to the third day of action. In the men’s singles categories, Korea Republic’s Joo Youngdae beat colleague Kim Hyeonuk (2-11, 11-7, 14-12, 11-13, 11-6) to secure the class 1 title. Likewise, bronze medallists Thailand’s Rungroj Thainiyom and China’s Yan Shuo had cause to celebrate. Rungroj Thainiyom accounted for China’s Huang Jiaxin to emerge the class 6 winner, Yan Shuo overcame Japan’s Katsoyshi Yagi (11-7, 7-11, 11-8, 12-10).

Progress, for the women it was somewhat different. In addition to Seo Suyeon; silver medallist in Rio, Li Qian and Zhang Miao experienced defeats at the final hurdle as did Korea Republic’s Kim Seongok. In class 3, Li Qian was beaten by Korea Republic’s Lee Migyu (7-11, 11-6, 11-7, 7-11, 11-9), the player against whom she has experienced defeat two days earlier in the group stage (11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 14-12); meanwhile, in class 4, Zhang Miao lost to colleague, Zhou Ying (11-9, 11-9, 11-9), Kim Seongok suffered at the hands of China’s Wang Rui (11-6, 11-5, 11-2).

Top seeds in form

Notable performances; there were also notable performances by top seeded players. In the women’s singles events, Korea Republic’s Lee Kunwoo beat Iraq’s Najlam Al-Dayyeni (11-5, 5-11, 11-3, 11-3) to claim class 6 gold; likewise, Hong Kong’s Ng Mui Wui secured the class 11 title at the final hurdle overcoming Japan’s Maki Ito (6-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-7).

Titles for top seeds but in the men’s singles event, at the final hurdle, four leading names who owned that exalted position experienced defeats; in class 8 China’s Zhou Shuai was beaten by colleague Peng Weinan (11-4, 11-7, 11-8), in class 9, Japan’s Koyo Iwabuchi experienced defeat at the hands of China’s Zhao Yi Ching 11-13, 6-11, 11-9, 13-11, 11-7). Similarly in class 10, David Jacobs lost to Indonesian colleague, Komet Akbar (11-4, 13-11, 4-11, 11-9), Korea Republic’s Kim Gitae was beaten by Japan’s Takashi Asonabi (11-9, 8-11, 13-11, 7-11, 11-9).

Unexpected outcomes and there were more; in men’s singles class 2 Park Jincheol emerged the surprise winner overcoming compatriot Kang Changyoung (11-5, 12-10, 11-2) in the final. In the women’s singles events, China’s Zhao Xiaojing, who had started play as the no.2 seed, secured class 10 gold at the final expense of Chinese Taipei’s Tian Zhiau-Wen (6-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8).

Next steps

Tokyo 2020 places secured; the next part of the qualification process in the world ranking list for March 2020 followed by the world qualification tournament and Bipartite invitations.

2019 ITTF Asia Para Championships: Entry List

2019 ITTF Asia Para Championships: Draws and Latest Results