The Shifting Landscape of Paralympic Table Tennis: Fresh Faces Emerge Ahead of Paris 2024
As the world gears up for the highly anticipated Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, the table tennis landscape is undergoing a transformative shift. Recent performances suggest that we may witness the rise of new champions in both the men’s and women’s singles events.
In the men’s singles, Chinese Taipei’s Cheng Ming-Chieh and France’s Clément Berthier have emerged as strong contenders. Meanwhile, on the women’s side, Great Britain’s Megan Shackleton, Iraq’s Najlah Al-Dayyeni, and Japan’s Kanami Furukawa are athletes to keep a close eye on.
Cheng Ming-Chieh and Clément Berthier: Rising Stars in Men’s Singles
Cheng Ming-Chieh, competing in class 5, has delivered a remarkable performance in 2024, securing six men’s singles titles in as many months. His victories span across the United States, Brazil, Italy, Spain, Slovenia, and Chinese Taipei. With the Paris Games set to mark Cheng’s Paralympic debut, his flawless record positions him as a formidable favorite.
Clément Berthier, competing in class 8, brings a different kind of experience to the table. The Frenchman was a bronze medallist in the men’s team class 8 event at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, alongside Thomas Bouvais. Although his men’s singles campaign in Tokyo ended in the group stage, Berthier has shown significant improvement this year, securing titles in Egypt, Brazil, Montenegro, and Slovenia.
Berthier’s prowess extends beyond the singles event. Partnering with Esteban Herrault in class 14, the duo has consistently challenged for top honors, winning in Montenegro and finishing as runners-up in Egypt, Italy, and Slovenia.
Emerging Women’s Singles Contenders: Furukawa, Al-Dayyeni, and Shackleton
On the women’s side, Kanami Furukawa of Japan faced a tough challenge in Tokyo, finishing third in her women’s singles class 11 group. However, she has since found her stride, winning titles in France in 2023 and Egypt, Italy, Montenegro, and Slovenia in 2024.
Similarly, Najlah Al-Dayyeni of Iraq, competing in women’s singles class 6, endured a difficult campaign in Tokyo but has since turned things around. She has won titles in Jordan, China, and Korea Republic in 2023, notably defeating Ukraine’s Maryna Lytovchenko, the reigning Paralympic, World, and European champion, in the final in Egypt earlier this year.
Great Britain’s Megan Shackleton, who won bronze in the women’s team class 4-5 event in Tokyo, has also shown remarkable improvement. In 2024, Shackleton has reached five women’s singles finals, winning titles in the United States, Brazil, Kazakhstan, and Poland, and finishing as runner-up in the Czech Republic.
“These athletes are poised to make their mark at the upcoming Paralympic Games in Paris. Their recent performances indicate that we may witness landmark victories and new names etched onto the roll of honor.”
Table tennis enthusiasts and fans alike should keep a close eye on these rising stars as they aim for glory on the global stage. Secure your tickets now to be a part of the action-packed event.
🔗 Source
