Thrilling Qualifications Secure Four Table Tennis Spots for Paris 2024 Olympics
In a series of captivating matches across West and Central Asia, four talented table tennis athletes – two men and two women – have booked their tickets to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The West Asia Qualification Tournament in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, saw 28 players from Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Bahrain, Qatar, and Syria compete for the coveted spots. Jordan’s Zaid Yaman Abo and Lebanon’s Mariana Sahakian emerged victorious, earning the sole tickets in the men’s and women’s singles events, respectively.
Despite not being a top seed, Abo navigated through the group stage and faced off against Bahrain’s Rashed Rashed in the final, clinching the win with a 4-1 score (11-2, 11-2, 11-7, 9-11, 11-8). This historic achievement marks the first time a Jordanian table tennis player will represent their country at the Olympic Games.
In the women’s singles, Lebanon’s Sahakian avenged her earlier group stage loss to Syria’s Hend Zaza, securing a 4-1 (11-3, 6-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-9) victory in the final to earn her second Olympic appearance after Rio 2016.
Over in the Central Asia region, held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Iran’s Nima Alamian and Neda Shahsavari emerged victorious, securing their places in Paris. Alamian, making his third Olympic appearance, faced off against his brother, Noshad Alamiyan, in the final, prevailing with a 4-1 (11-4, 5-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-7) win.
Shahsavari also qualified for her third Olympic Games, enduring a thrilling 4-3 (4-11, 13-11, 9-11, 11-9, 14-12, 11-13, 13-11) victory over Kazakhstan’s Sarvinoz Mirkadirova in the final.
These triumphant athletes have not only secured their place at the Paris 2024 Olympics but have also inspired a new generation of table tennis enthusiasts in their respective regions. As they prepare to showcase their skills on the global stage, the table tennis community eagerly anticipates their performances.
🔗 Source
