Silver medallist at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, on the second day of play, Samuel Von Einem was in no mood for charity.
The no.3 seed, after accounting for Korea Republic’s Kim Changgai, the no.6 seed (12-10, 7-11, 11-5, 11-8), he beat Frenchman, Lucas Creange, the no.2 seed (11-3, 5-11, 11-8, 11-5) and Hungary’s Peter Palos, the top seed and gold medallist at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, to claim the title. Imposingly the 24 year old from Adelaide prevailed in straight games (11-8, 13-11, 11-7).
In the opposite half of the draw, in the later rounds Peter Palos had ended Japanese aspirations; at the quarter-final stage he had ousted Toshiya Takahashi, the no.7 seed (12-10, 4-11, 9-11, 11-3, 11-4), prior to ending the hopes of Takamori Takeshi, the no.4 seed (9-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-7).
Success for the third seed in the men’s singles event, in the women’s singles it gold for the name at the top of the order. Elena Prokofeva claimed the title at the expense of surprise finalist, Hong Kong’s Wong Ting-Ting. Not seeded, she had ousted Japan’s Kanami Furukawa, the no.4 seed (11-13, 11-8, 11-5, 11-8), prior to reserving her place in the final courtesy of success in opposition to colleague Ng Mui Wui, the no.2 seed (8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-6).
Moreover, Ng Mui Wui was a player in form; one round earlier she had ended the hopes of Russia’s Anzhelka Kosacheva, the no.3 seed (11-7, 12-10, 11-9).
Unexpected progress; for Elena Prokofeva it was as anticipated. She recorded a last eight win against Japan’s Maki Ito (11-7, 11-5, 11-8), before ousting Poland’s Dorota Bowacka (11-4, 11-9, 11-9) to reach the final.
Team events now follow, play concludes on Wednesday 16th October.
2019 INAS Games: Full results and second stage draws