How small the margins, at times are, between triumph and disaster! Welcome to Day 2 of the Para World Champs.
For me as a player, I am rarely able to recall exactly what happens the few moments after being 19-19 in the 3rd game and the reason for winning, or losing such a close match. Certainly, I recall the feeling – either the triumphant relief as victor. Or the heart-breaking disaster of losing! My most memorable of those moments was SL3-4 Mens Doubles Quarter Final of the last Para World Championships in Stoke Mandeville. 19-19 in the 3rd against our teammates and a World Bronze Medal at stake.
Well today, we witnessed many of those moments. I start with outstanding performance of the day by Megan Hollander of the Netherlands who threw everything she had at the reigning World Silver Medallist Mamiko Toyoda of Japan. Despite losing 17-21, 22-20, 20-22 Hollander was in the form of her life and impressed the crowd, who were transfixed by the performance of both women.
Meril Locquette (FRA) was put out of the tournament after a 25-23, 15-21, 21-19 defeat to Chirag Baretha (IND). A truly hard fought and tense SU5 Mens Singles. The 20-year-old Frenchman will be looking for more success in Mens Doubles this week.
Read:
Day 1 at the Worlds and the pressure is already on the Europeans
World Number 1 in SS6 Mens Singles, Krysten Coombs (ENG) was put to the test by the new kid on the block Raja Magotra (IND). From being 4 points behind late in the 3rd game, Coombs’ class and experience shone through in a 21-16, 18-21, 21-19 victory.
England teammate Gobi Ranganathan was not so fortunate in his final WH2 Mens Singles group E match. Undone by the in-form Rick Cornell Hellmann (GER) 9-21, 21-13, 20-22. Still progressing the group, Ranganathan now has a tough opponent in the last 16, Madzlan Saibon of Malaysia. Gobi’s feelings after the match
-Gutted I wasn’t able to close out the match against Rick! The conditions were tricky with the drift, but I’m still in the tournament and I’ll give it everything I’ve got tomorrow against Madzlan. Come on England!
Last, but certainly not least, a word of congratulations for Cathrine Rosengren (DEN) who progresses from the group-of-death in the SU5 Womens Singles, managing to overcome Li Tongtong (CHN) 17-21, 21-18, 21-7 to face Megan Hollander in the Quarter Finals tomorrow.
See all of the results of Day 2
here