Other Events | 12 Sep 2016
Rio Paralympics: Laurens DEVOS goes down in history!
Photo: Courtesy ITTF
The 16-year-old Belgian became the youngest ever Paralympic champion as he beat Netherlands` Gerben LAST in the final game of Men`s Class 9
Laurens DEVOS, the 16-year-old Belgian, goes down in history as the youngest ever Paralympic table tennis champion. Even more, he needed just 18 minutes to secure gold in the Men`s Class 9, against Netherlands` Gerben LAST who did one step more after the 2012 London where he took bronze. Italian Mohamed KALEM got the third place on the podium as he defeated Juan PEREZ GONZALEZ from Spain.
Men`s Class 3
Chinese FENG Panfeng managed to defend his gold medal from 2012 London Paralympics, as he beat German`s Thomas SCHMIDBERGER in four games. Florian MERRIEN from France defeated German Thomas BRUCHLE in very intense bronze medal contest which took five sets and 40 minutes.
Men`s Class 5
Chinese CAO Ningning clinched gold medal in a style, defeating German Valentin BAUS in straight games, but all three with a narrow margin. Bronze medal goes to Serbia, as Mitar PALIKUCA overcame in four games the 2012 London Paralympic champion Tommy URHAUG from Norway.
Men`s Class 6
Peter ROSENMEIER from Denmark is the newly crowned Paralympic champion, as he beat the 2012 runner-up Alvaro VALERA VARGAS from Spain. The winner was decided after full five sets. Bronze belonged to Thailand`s Rungroj THAINIYOM who prevailed against Korean PARK Hong-Kyu.
Men`s Class 7
The 2012 runner-up William John BAYLEY from Great Britain managed to win gold, playing in front of noisy Brazilian audience at Riocentro – Pavilion 3, which supported host Israel PEREIRA STROH. Spaniard Jordi Morales GARCIA lost to Chinese YAN Shuo in the bronze medal clash.
Women`s Class 1-2
LIU Jing from China continues as Paralympic gold medalist, beating Korean SEO Su-Yeon in four games. Giada ROSSI won bronze as she defeated Thailand`s Chilchitparyak BOOTWANSIRIN in straight games (first and third by narrow margin, second 11:0).
Women`s Class 4
Two Serbian players celebrated in five-set matches of the Women`s Class 4. Borislava PERIC-RANKOVIC concluded in a style her confident performances, taking gold in duel against ZHANG Miao. Chinese led 1:0 and 2:1 in sets, but PERIC-RANKOVIC responded by two quick sets (11:3, 11:6) to secure her best ever achievement (in London she was runner-up). Nada MATIC did even bigger upheaval, coming from 0:2 to 3:2 in the bronze medal showdown against Sue GILROY from Great Britain.
Women`s Class 8
Same opponents – same winner in the Paralympic final as four years ago in London! MAO Jingdian from China beat Thu KAMKASOMPHOU from France in straight games to take second gold medal in a row. Germany`s Juliane WOLF lost to Philippines` Josephine MEDINA in bronze medal clash.
