Competing in men’s singles class 11, he accounted for Australia’s Samuel von Einem, the Rio 2016 silver medallist, in a tension packed four games contest (7-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6).

Strong from the backhand, Takashi Asano made a most positive start, in the opening game he established a 7-2 lead but then lost the next nine points!

One wondered if the recovery would provide a major confidence boost for the Australian; in fact, it was Takashi Asano who performed the fight back. Matching compatriot Tomokazu Harimoto on the decibel scale, he secured the next four games.

“I want to win gold; my opponent today was strong; I played from the heart. After losing the first game I played harder and harder.” Takashi Asano

Defeat for Samuel von Einem, there was a close call for Hungary’s Peter Palos, the player who had won men’s singles class 11 gold in London; he was required to recover from an opening game deficit in opposition to Korea Republic’s Kim Changgi (7-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-7).

Somewhat similarly, as the day came to a close, there were testing contests for Great Britain’s Will Bayley and Brazil’s Israel Stroh, the respective gold and silver medallists in men’s singles class 8 in Rio de Janeiro.

Will Bayley eventually overcame Poland’s Maksym Chudziki (13-11, 8-11, 11-3, 11-8); in an even closer contest, Israel Stroh accounted for Japan’s Masachika Inoue (13-11, 5-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-9), a contest in which he led 10-5 in the deciding game.

Play in the initial group stage continues on Thursday 26^th August.