Yan Shuo, the men’s singles class 7 winner (Photo: Rémy Gros)
Eight titles at stake on the morning of Sunday 29th August at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, not one quarter was given, not one quarter asked.
Proceedings commenced in a most dramatic fashion; Germany’s Valentin Baus saved one match point in the fourth game before beating China’s Cao Ningning in the men’s singles class 3 final (13-11, 12-10, 11-8).
China’s Zhou Ying beat India’s Bhavinaben Patel to win women’s singles class 4. In the very first match of the 4 event, they had met; Zhou Ying had won in straight games (11-3, 11-9, 11-2), in the final it was little different, once again Zhou Ying was in commanding form (11-7, 11-6, 11-6).
Soon after in men’s singles class 7, there was more success for China. Yan Shuo recovered from an opening game deficit to beat Great Britain’s Will Bayley (4-11, 11-9, 11-2, 11-8).
More gold for China followed immediately. Mao Jingdian beat colleague, Huang Wenjuan (11-13, 11-5, 11-5, 11-9) to arrest the women’s singles class 8 title.
Next on the schedule, Zhang Bian added to the Chinese collection. The top seed, she overcame Pan Jiamin, the no.3 seed (12-14, 5-11, 11-8, 13-11, 11-7) but she came perilously close to defeat; in the fourth game, she saved match point on two occasions before emerging successful.
There was further gold for China. Xue Juan won women’s singles class 3, in the final, she accounted for Slovakia’s Alena Kanova (11-2, 11-6, 11-9).
Peter Palos brought Hungary success; he claimed the men’s singles class 11 title overcoming Australia’s Samuel von Einem in the final (6-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9).
Play for the day concluded with Poland’s Patryk Chojnowski beating Frenchman, Mateo Boheas (11-8, 11-5, 12-10) to secure the men’s singles class 11 title.