A silver medal on international debut in June 2019 was the outcome for Iraq’s Najlah Al-Dayyeni at the Egypt Para Open in Alexandria, returning to the tournament where she announced her arrival, this time in Giza, on Thursday 25th January, the now 20-year-old recorded the biggest win of her career.
The no.2 seed, she recovered from a two games to nil deficit to beat Ukraine’s Maryna Lytovchenko, the top seed (8-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-4) to secure the women’s singles class 6 title; on paper that may not sound a resonating success but when the Ukrainian’s record in recent years is considered, it is a major upset.
Maryna Lytovchenko holds the “big three” titles, Paralympic Games, World Para Championships, European Para Championships.
Furthermore, the result adds spice to the forthcoming Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, both have already qualified, having enjoyed success last year, Maryna Lytovchenko at the 2023 European Para Championships, Najilah Al-Dayyeni at the Asian Para Games.
An eagerly awaited potential clash in the French capital city, it could well be the same in men’s singles class 11. Hungary’s Peter Palos, top seed and gold medallist three years ago in Tokyo, experienced a semi-final defeat at the hands of Frenchman, Lucas Creange (6-11, 15-17, 13-11, 13-11, 11-5).
Officially, both have yet to qualify but with Peter Palos standing at no.3 on the current World rankings and Lucas Creange at no.6, there is every chance both will be in Paris.
Lucas Creange maintained his good form, in the title decider he beat colleague Antoine Zhao (11-6, 11-3, 7-11, 11-3).
Unexpected outcomes and there were more men’s singles surprises. Ukraine’s Oleksandr Yezyk and Lev Kats each upset the order of merit as did Turkey’s Ali Ozturk.
Occupying the no.2 seed spot Oleksandr Yezyk won class 2 beating Spain’s Daniel Rodriguez in the final (11-7, 121-8, 4-11, 11-8), the semi-final winner in opposition to Italy’s Federico Crosara, the top seed (10-12, 8-11, 11-4, 12-10, 11-6).
Likewise, in class 5 Ali Ozturk seized the opportunity following the demise of the top seed.
At the final hurdle he overcame Frenchman Nicolas Savant-Aira (11-6, 11-3, 9-11, 9-11, 11-6), the victor one round earlier in opposition to Norway’s Tommy Urhaug, the top seed (8-11, 11-6, 15-13, 11-6).
Both Oleksandr Yezyk and Ali Ozturk have enhanced their chances of gaining Paris places; they will look forward with anticipation to the deciding rankings issued on Monday 1st April. On the January order of merit in their respective classes, Oleksandr Yezyk is at no.13, Ali Ozturk at no.8.
The same situation applies to Lev Kats in class 9; presently named in the no.12 spot and not listed amongst the leading protagonists in Gizi, he made intentions clear. At the semi-final stage he beat colleague, Ivan Man, the top seed (8-11, 11-9, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9), prior to securing the title at the expense of Spain’s Anders Cepas, the no.2 seed (3-11, 8-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-8).
Wins for Lev Kats in opposition to the top two names, in women’s singles class 3, it was the same for India’s Sonalben Patel. In the penultimate round she beat Korea Republic’s Li Migyu, the top seed (11-5, 9-11, 10-12, 12-10, 11-6), before accounting for Italy’s Carlotta Ragazzini, the no.2 seed (11-8, 11-8, 11-7) to claim gold.
A surprise outcome, to a lesser extent it was the same in women’s singles class 11; Japan’s Kanami Furukawa, the no.2 seed, secured the title, in the final she overcame Turkey’s Ebru Acer, the top seed (12-14, 11-9, 11-8, 11-8).
The win for Kanami Furukawa could well have cemented her Paris place, presently she stands at no.3 in her class; for Sonalben Patel it could prove a major boost, she is listed at no.17.
Surprise outcomes to various extents, otherwise it was gold for the favourites; names we can expect to see in Paris.
Italy’s Giada Rossi prevailed in women’s singles class 1-2, Germany’s Sandra Mikolaschek in class 4-5, colleague Juliane Wolf in class 8. Likewise, Norway’s Nora Korneliussen won class 7; Hungary’s Alexa Szvitacs class 9-10.
Similarly, in the men’s singles, Korea Republics Kim Hakjin secured class 1 gold, Slovakia’s Boris Travincek enjoyed the same level of success in class 4 as did host nation’s Sayed Youssef in class 7.
However, overall, pride of place went to France. Additional to Lucas Creange, Florian Merrien won 3, Esteban Herrault prevailed in class 6, Clément Berthier emerged victorious in class 8, Mateo Boheas claimed class 10 gold.
Noteworthy success for France and as proceedings continued, there was more to follow, Florian Merrien leading the line. He partnered Nicolas Savant-Aira to men’s doubles class 8 gold and Flora Vauthier to the top prize in mixed doubles class 7, thus completing the full house.
In addition, Clément Berthier added the mixed doubles class 14 title alongside Morgan Caillaud, a player who enjoyed further success as proceedings came to a conclusion. She joined forces with Lucie Hautière to emerge victorious in women’s doubles class 14.
Further success for France, it was the same for Ukraine; the man of the moment being Lev Kats. In a similar vein to Florian Merrien, he bagged all three available titles; he won men’s doubles class 18 partnering Ivan Mai, mixed doubles class 20 alongside Iryna Shynkarova.
Three titles for Lev Kats, it was two for colleague, Oleksandr Yezyk, as it was for the Korea Republic’s Kim Hakjin, Turkey’s Ali Ozturk and the host nation’s Sayed Youssef.
Partnering Slovakia’s Peter Lovas, Oleksandr Yezyk added the men’s doubles class 4 title to his collection, Sayed Youssef joined forces with Belgium Ben Despineux to win class 14; Ali Ozturk and Irem Oluk prevailed in class 10.
Similarly in the mixed doubles Kim Hakjin allied with Italy’s Carlotta Ragazzini to claim class 4 success; following suit, Hungary’s Alexa Szvitacs added to her earlier success; she claimed the class 17 title alongside Andras Csonka.
Also, in a similar manner Giada Rossi and Sonalben Patel departed with two titles. Giadi Rossi allied with Michela Brunelli to win women’s doubles class 5, Sonalban Patel partnered Bhavina Patel to reserve the top prize in women’s doubles class 10.
Meanwhile, in a tournament that boasted no less than 36 events, as matters concluded titles were secured by Hong Kong, Japan, Turkey and Ukraine.
An Kwok Ho and Leung Chung Yan won men’s doubles class 22, Yuen King Shing and Wong Ting Ting claimed mixed doubles class 22 gold to bring Hong Kong success.
Not to be overshadowed Japan’s Maki Ito and Ukraine’s Natalya Kosmina prevailed in women’s doubles class 22, a situation that applied also to Turkey’s Merve Demir and Neslihan Kavas. They won women’s doubles class 20.
Play concluded in Gizi, attention now turns to São Paulo, the ITTF Fa40 Brazilian Para Open 2024 commences on Thursday 1st February.
