Full House in Taipei City Bodes Well for Martin Ludrovsky and Cheng Ming-Chih
Written by I Dig SportsPlaces at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games secured, after four days of action, on Saturday 1st June, Slovakias Martin Ludrovsky and the host associations Cheng Ming-Chih emerged the most successful players on duty at the ITTF Taipei City Para Open.
After securing the top prize in mens singles class 2, Ludrovsky continued his winning ways. He partnered Italys Federico Crosara to mens doubles class 4 success and compatriot, Alena Kanova to gold in mixed doubles class 4-7.
Equally impressive, Cheng Ming-Chih prevailed in mens singles class 5 to win no less than his fifth such title this year; earlier he had won in the United States, Brazil, Italy and Spain.
Later, partnering colleagues, he succeeded in mens doubles class 8 alongside Yin Chien-Ping, mixed doubles class 10 in harness with Lin Yen-Ying,
Three titles, it was just one round short for Chinese Taipeis Lin Tzu-Yu; the runner up in womens singles class 8-10, beaten by Australias Melissa Tapper, similar to Cheng Ming-Chih, she enjoyed doubles success partnering compatriots.
Competing in both instances in class 14-20, she secured womens doubles success alongside Tian Shiau-Wem, mixed doubles gold when partnering Huang Ren-Ting.6-6-7
Two titles, it was the same for Chen Po-Yen, also from Chinese Taipei and for Japans Kosuke Hemmi.
Both enjoyed mens singles success, Chen Po-Yen in class 11, Kosuke Hemmi in class 6-7.
Good form maintained, Chen Po-Yen added mixed doubles class 22 gold partnering compatriot, Li Jing-Shiuan; Kosuke Hemmi allied with Jean-Paul Montanus of the Netherlands to win mens doubles class 14.
Success for Chen Po-Yen, there was also success for colleagues.
In the mens singles Wu Cheng-Sheng, not seeded, emerged the surprise class 3 winner. Liang Chen-Kun, the top seed, prevailed in class 4; in the womens singles, Lu Pi-Chun, also top seeded, won class 4-5.
Likewise, Hong Kongs Wong Yue Ching won womens singles class 6-7, Japans Kanami Furukawa prevailed in womens singles class 11.
Both were very much wins as anticipated, Wong Yue Ching commenced play, the no.2 seed, finishing ahead of top seeded colleague, Chiu Kan Shan; for Kanami Furukawa, the leading name, she added to her years tally, in January she won in Egypt and then followed suit in Italy and Spain.
Adding to earlier success, it was the same for Spains Ander Cepas, the winner in Brazil, he prevailed in mens singles class 9-10.
Rather differently for Italys Carlotta Ragazzini, the womens singles class 1-3 winner, it was a first of the year; for Michael Godfrey of the United States, it was an even more groundbreaking achievement, a career first. He won mens singles class 1.
Titles for the Americas, Asia and Europe; Oceania was not left out; additional to Melissa Tapper, Australian colleague, Nathan Pellissier, captured the mens singles class 8 top prize.
Meanwhile, as proceedings concluded, there was more success for Europe, Italys Michaela Brunelli and Giada Rossi captured womens class 14-20 gold.
However, as anticipated Asia proved the prominent continent.
Japans Arufuahirozaku Tateishi and Sri Lankas Dinesh Pitiyage won mens doubles class 18, Hong Kongs Wan Kwok Ho and Yuen King Shin succeeded in mens doubles class 18.
Similarly on duty for Hong Kong, Wong Pui Kei and Wong Ting Ting emerged the womens doubles class 22 champions.
Play concluded in Taipei City, attention now turns to Ostrava, the three day Czech Para Open commences on Thursday 20th June.