Two more podiums guaranteed at the Polish Paralympic Open

Guilherme Costa and Iranildo Espíndola (Photo: Ana Patrícia/CPB)

Brazil finished third in the Polish Table Tennis Paralympic Open with at least two more bronze medals guaranteed. This Thursday (28), the doubles matches took place. Three Brazilians competed and all three qualified for the knockout stage.

Guilherme Costa and Iranildo Espíndola started the group stage of the MD4 class with a defeat to Nam Kiwon and Baek Youngbok, from South Korea, by 3 sets to 0 (11/7, 11/8 and 11/9). However, they recovered from a difficult situation by beating Saudis Ibrahim Abdullaha Alhassan and Rakan Abdulrahman Alsalmi also 3-0 (11/6, 11/3 and 11/2). With the result, they advanced to the semifinals with the second place in the group and secured bronze.

Brazilian Israel Stroh partnered with Spaniard Jordi Morales in the MD14 class. They also had a campaign of one win and one defeat in the group stage, as did Guilherme and Iranildo. The pair beat the Germans Thomas Rau and Bjoern Schnake by 3 sets to 1 (11/9, 4/11, 11/8 and 12/10), but lost to the Belgian Ben Ashok Despineux and the Norwegian Krizander Magnussen in the next round by 3 to 0 (12/10, 11/6 and 11/8). Despite this, they qualified for the quarterfinals and defeated German Benedikt Müller and Israeli Yehonatan Chaim Levi 3-1 (14/12, 7/11, 11/3 and 11/9).

On Friday (29), the last day of competition at the Polish Table Tennis Paralympic Open, Guilherme Costa and Iranildo Espíndola will play in the semi-final against the Spaniard Daniel Rodríguez and the Japanese Masanori Uno. Israel Stroth and Jordi Morales face the French Stephane Messi and Kevin Dourbecker for a place in the decision.

Sophia Kelmer close to another podium

Unlike other classes, WD14 had a unique group format. In this dispute, Brazilian Sophia Kelmer partnered with Polish Katarzyna Marszal. They played three matches this Thursday and, at the moment, they lead the group with 100% success. The victories came against the pairs Freja Larsen (DEN)/Barbara Jablonka (POL), Nina Reck (ALE)/Morgen Caillaud (FRA) and Felicity Pickard (GBR)/Bly Twomey (GBR).

In the last round, Kelmer and Marszal face the partnership of Japanese Yuri Tomono and Romanian Gabriela Costantin. The other pairs also play and the results of these clashes should decide the class medals. It is worth noting that the Brazilian has already won silver in the individual tournament.

*With information from the Brazilian Table Tennis Confederation (CBTM)