The ITTF Paralympic World Qualification Tournament 2024 in Pattaya: Surprises and Upsets Abound
The ITTF Paralympic World Qualification Tournament 2024 in Pattaya has been full of surprises, with top contenders stumbling right from the opening day. The drama continued on Friday, 24th May.
In the men’s singles events, Great Britain’s top seeds faced unexpected quarter-final defeats. Italy’s Andrea Borgato defeated Tom Matthews in class 1, while China’s Liu Chaodong overcame Ross Wilson in class 9. Borgato now advances to face Mexico’s second seed, Victor Reyes, while Liu takes on Japan’s Koyo Iwabuchi, also a second seed.
In contrast, Serbia’s Mitar Palikuca in class 5 and Thailand’s Thirayu Chuewong in class 2 rebounded from earlier defeats to secure their semi-final places. Chuewong triumphed over Spain’s second seed Daniel Rodriguez, while Palikuca defeated Indonesia’s Tato Hardiyanto.
Palikuca’s victory sets up a potential final against Great Britain’s Jack Hunter-Spivey, a bronze medallist from Tokyo. Hunter-Spivey will face Brazil’s Lucas Arabian, who ended Turkey’s Hamza Caliskan’s impressive run in the quarter-finals.
In the women’s singles, the upsets continued. Turkey’s Hatice Dulman, the top seed in class 3, was edged out by Thailand’s Patamawadee Intanon in a thrilling semi-final. Intanon will now meet Mexico’s second seed, Edith Sigala, in the final.
Most leading names remain in contention, with Argentina’s Maria Garonne, Serbia’s Ana Zelen, and Thailand’s Wijittra Jaion and Kanlaya Chaiwut-Kriabklang among the standout performers.
“The final day promises high-octane action and unforgettable moments as the journey to Paris reaches its dramatic conclusion.”
Don’t miss the thrilling finale and catch it live on ITTF’s YouTube.
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