The 2022 World Para Table Tennis Championship took place in Granada, Spain between 6th and 12th of November.

A total of 32 athletes with intellectual impairment, 16 men and 16 women took part in the competition in the Class 11 category. Players who attracted the greatest attention were the returning Paralympic Champions. However, major casualties occurred in both men’s and women’s matches where many Tokyo2020 medallists failed to progress to the semi-finals.

Australia’s Samuel Von Einem was beaten by Kim Chang Gi by 3-2 in the first round whilst in the quarterfinals, Hungary’s Peter Palos lost to Kim Gi Tae from South Korea 3-0, and Cuesta Eduardo from Spain took down Lucas Creange (FRA) 3-2.

Kim Gi Tae (S.KOR) in action. Picture Credit- ITTF

From not qualifying to the semi-finals at the Paralympic Games last year to becoming the World no.1, South Korea’s Kim Gi Tae made quite a comeback. He emerged as the most successful player of the championship, securing gold in all three possible events – men’s singles, men’s doubles, mixed doubles – the only player to achieve the feat.

In Men’s singles, Gi Tae overpowered Kim Chang and claimed the championship title by 3-0 (11-7,11-7,11-3) whilst in the doubles he and partner Jeong Kyuyoung grabbed the top spot on the podium by 3-0 win over Japan’s Takes Takemori and Kate Koya. Zhao Antoine and Ivaldi Timothe from France settled for the Bronze.

In Mixed doubles, once again South Korea dominated everyone. Kim Gi Tae and Seo Yang Hee (S.Korea) won the Gold by beating Japanese team (Asian Takashi/Furukawa Kanami) and French players Lea ferney and Lucas Creange settled for Bronze.

In the Women’s section, beating Maki Ito from Japan by 3-0, French superstar Lea Ferney secured herself a spot in the finals. Meanwhile, Polish player Lysiak Krystyna ended the hopes of Nowacka Dorota (POL) and entered the finals by 3-0.

In the finals, determined to win the championship, Tokyo 2020 silver medalist from France crushed her Polish opponent Lysiak Krystyna by 3-0.

Lea Ferney smashing in the finals. Picture Credit- ITTF

“I am glad to win the Gold. I started at 3rd rank and I am the first now, its a great feeling. Me and my coach prepared strategies before the competition and watched videos, and tried to do as we decided. This competition was great.” said Lea Ferney.

In Women’s doubles, Hong Kong’s NG Mui Wiu and Wong Ting Ting, defeated Lea Ferney and Anne Divet by 3-0. Turkey and Poland grabbed the final spot on the podium.

Full results can be accessed from ITTF Website.

While Australia continues to stay on top of the medal tally, Japan yet again proved that it is the powerhouse when it comes to shattering records. They also took two out of three Golds in table tennis.

Swimming

On day-4 of the ongoing 2022 Virtus OA Games, the hungry Japanese relay teams shattered two more Virtus World Records today in the 4x50m medley relay in both men’s and women’s II1 categories. The men’s team consisting of Saito Masaki, Yamaguchi Naohide, Matsuda Anku and Kagose Rei broke the previous record of 1:53.76sec by timing 1:52.20sec. On the other hand, the women’s team of Fukui Kasumi, Serizawa Mikita, Inoue Mama and Kinoshita Aira clocked a new Virtus record time of 2:11.06sec.

In the same event, Australia also broke the Oceania record with 2:16.03sec which was set in 2019. Thompson Kale, Bruzzese Stephanie, Younes Yasmine-Bella and Lucy Jade were swimming for Australia in this race who added silver to Australia’s tally.

In II1 Women’s 200m Freestyle, Aira Kinoshita from Japan broke Asia’s record twice today. Clocking a time of 2:13.70sec, she broke it first in the prelims and later in the finals, she set the new record for 2:11.16sec.

In Women’s 50m Butterfly, Yui Lam Chan from Hong Kong had it all prepared to break her own Virtus record which she set in 2019. While she managed to succeed in her plan by timing 30.25sec, 00.17sec lesser than her previous record time, Corry Taylor (AUS)snatched away the Gold medal from Yui Lam along with the Virtus World Record with a time of 30.06.

Wai Lok Tang from Honk-Kong created a new Asia’s record in II1 Men’s 50m Breaststroke with 31.81sec.

Full swimming results can be accessed here.

Table Tennis

It was yet another exhilarating day at the  Sleeman Sports Complex where the finals of II1 doubles matches were staged.

Japan and Hong Kong made their way into the finals by beating Chinese Taipei and Macau by 3-2 and 3-0 respectively.

The finals couldn’t be more thrilling. Honk kong won the first two sets with a huge lead of 11-4 and 11-9 pushing the Japanese team into the third and deciding set. With tremendous pressure of winning the set to stay in the game, the Japanese team brought their A-game and dragged the third set to deciding points and dramatically won it by 14-12, after which there was no turning back. Miya Yamaguchi and Kawasaki Ayumi (JPN) kept on returning smashes across the table and won the next two sets by 11-4 and 11-7, winning the finals by 3-2 over Wong Put Key and Wong Ka Man from Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, Li Lydia Yi-Ya and Li Jing Shaun from Chinese Taipei had a smooth win over Japan’s Wada Natsuki and Ota Ayumi with a score of 13-11, 13,11 and 11-7.

In II1 Men’s doubles, Japan took a head start by winning the first two sets by 11-9, 11-6 against Chinese Taipei. However, winning the third set by 11-9, Chen Po Yen and Hseieh Fei from Chinese Taipei kept their position steady in the match. In the fourth match, Yamamoto Shunta and Hara Hajime started playing aggressively to which the Chinese Taipei team had no defence and lost the Gold to Japan by 11-9. Indonesia and Hong kong took the final podium spot.

In the mixed doubles, Shunta Yamamoto paired up with Wada Natsuki for Japan and played against their fellow countrymates Hara anime and Yamaguchi Miya. While Yamamoto and Wada won the first match by 11-9, Hara and Yamaguchi won the next matches by 11-5, 11-9 and went a step closer to the Gold. Winning the next match, Yamamoto and Wada pushed Chinese Taipei into the deciding match. Both the teams gave tough competition to each other and pushed the final set beyond typical match points but Hara and Yamaguchi couldn’t shake the determined mood of Yamamoto and Wada and lost the final set by 14-12. Chinese Taipei’s Chen Po Yen and Li Jing Shiuan and Japan’s Yoshikawa Aoto and Kawasaki Ayumi settled for Bronze.

Full match stats can be accessed from the ITTF website.

Here are some actions from the doubles matches played today.

Medal tally for new nations and debutants opened yesterday

On Day-1 of the Athletics competition at the 2022 Virtus OA Games taking place at the Queensland Sport & Athletics Centre, many debutant athletes scripted history by winning first-ever medal for their country.

Mohammad Bin Yakub showing off his Gold medal (P.C- SG Disability Sports Council)

Mohammad Bin Yakub added the first medal- Gold to the tally for Singapore at the games. Yakub clocked a timing of 11.59sec in II1 Men’s 100m finals. Coming second was New Zealand’s Josh lush, who also scripted history by opening the medal tally for his country.

In II1 Men’s 400m Hurdles, Mi Ramazani Torkamani claimed Gold for Iran.

In II1 men’s Javelin throw, Hassan Deghani from Iran claimed Gold for his country Iran by covering a distance of 40.17m. In the same event, Cosmol Maefolia representing Soloman Island brought their first Silver medal. He covered a distance of 31.14m.

“I feel very very happy for being the first athlete to win a medal for my country,” said Cosmol.

In Girls, II1 400m (youth), Has Lei Chio won Silver for Macau with a timing of 1:24.74sec.

In II2 Men’s 100m, Fiji’s Wise Togotogorua, who debuted in Virtus events today, won the Bronze for his country. Fiji is a new member nation of Virtus.

II1 Women’s 100m, Rica Oktavia won Bronze for Indonesia.

Japanese athletes set four new records

The powerhouse Japan has broken three records already in the pool.

Anku Matsuda from Japan smashed the Para World Record in Men’s II1 200m Butterfly yesterday at the 2022 Virtus OA Games with a time of 2:08.45sec.

Japanese II1 women’s team set a new Virtus World Record in II1 4x100m Medley relay with an outstanding timing of 4:28.23sec.

Storming towards the end with a timing of 4:05.97sec, their counterparts did the same in the Men’s II1 4x100m Medley relay set new Virtus World Record. 

Clocking a time of 2:21:26sec, Naohide Yamaguchi set a new Virtus Asia Record in the Men’s 200m Breaststroke II1 category.

Here is a highlight video from Day-2 of the OA games.

The 2022 Virtus Oceania-Asia Games were declared open today at King George Square, Brisbane by Robyn Smith OAM, CEO of Sport Inclusion Australia, Virtus Vice President and IPC Governing Board Member at Large, Member-elect Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Brisbane 2032 and Patrick Chan, President of Virtus Asia and Governing board member of Virtus.

Athletes from 25 countries marched in their colourful national uniforms from Reddacliff place, down Queen Street Mall and into King George Square for the opening ceremony. The ceremony was attended by Helen Croxford, President of the Sport Inclusion Australia Board and Chair of the OA Games 2022 Organising Committee, Duane Kale Vice- President of the International Paralympic Committee, Counsellor Angela Owen, from Brisbane City Council who was also representing the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Jessica Pugh representing the Premier of Queensland, Barry Holman, Secretary General of Virtus, Patrick Chan, President of Virtus Asia and Governing board member of Virtus and Robyn Smith OAM, CEO of Sport Inclusion Australia, Virtus Vice President and IPC Governing Board Member at Large, Member-elect Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Brisbane 2032.

The celebration was started by Shannon Ruska who performed a traditional ‘smoking ceremony’ of the stage for the official welcome to the country. This was followed by the Australian National anthem recitation by Emma Tomlinson and the DLDC choir and an exhilarating gymnastic performance by the Dynamite studios.

Welcoming the athletes and officials from OA regions, Jessica Pugh mentioned, “It’s really, really special to be here on the land of the oldest continuing living culture here in Australia. For me, sport is always about being part of something bigger than yourself. We absolutely love to see how sports contribute to Australia and the Queensland Government and are really proud to be able to provide a bit of a contribution financially“.

Angela Owen, Councillor of Brisbane City Council

Duane Kale, the Vice-President of the International Paralympic Committee was also delighted to be attending the games. 

Duane Kale, Vice-President International Paralympic Committee. P.C- Paralympic New Zealand

“It’s an absolute privilege to see the nations run in the true spirit of inclusion. It has not been limited to Oceania in Asia and as you’ve seen from the flags behind me, we have representatives here from many parts of the world and that’s what inclusion is about. IPC is delighted to see the pathways that your countries and your governments are providing about opportunities for people with an intellectual impairment to participate in sport and not just participate to make a career out of a sport, and to change your lives and to change the lives of others that will follow in your footsteps.”

Robyn Smith emphasised how important this combined regional game is for both the Oceania and Asia regions, and how this event will provide an opportunity for athletes to not only compete but also to get classified in their region without requiring them to travel to a different continent.

Robyn Smith OAM, CEO of Sport Inclusion Australia, Virtus Vice President and IPC Governing Board Member at Large

“We’re really honoured to have you all here in Brisbane, Australia. It wouldn’t be possible if not for the three tiers of government that have supported us in such a substantial way, the Federal Government, the Queensland Government and the Brisbane City Council who after our success in the 2019 Global Games and a horrible pandemic, decided to support us again to allow us to do this.”

Further, she also stated, “We’re also delighted to be able to work with the International Paralympic Committee and offer classification for many of you. So in the three pathways that go through to the Paralympics, it’s been wonderful to have the classifiers from all around the world be here in Australia to offer that opportunity for you where you strive for Paris 2024 and as Duane said, LA 2028 and potentially Brisbane in 2032.”

The OA Games athlete ambassador Alberto Campbell and Caitlin Papworth took the athlete’s oath which was followed by technical officials Patricia Terrarium and Patrick Kellen who took the official oath for the OA Games. For the next seven days, the multi-sport event will offer competitions in eleven sports: Athletics, Basketball, Judo, Swimming, Table Tennis, Triathlon, Sailing, Cycling and Rowing, and a demonstration of Taekwondo as well as Badminton.

Virtus wishes the athletes all the best for the events ahead. For those who missed it, here is a recording of the spectacular opening ceremony.

Cognitive issues are one of the major effects of intellectual impairment. Hélène Parmentier, sister and coach of the Belgian Paralympic S-14 swimmer Aymeric Parmentier shared some of those issues Aymeric faces due to his impairment in a match day environment with Virtus reporter Mousumi Mazumdar.

Mousumi – Hi Helen. You are the sister of Aymeric Parmentier, who is an S-14 Paralympic Swimmer and you are also his coach. Can you tell us, about his childhood and his impairment affected him, especially in his training?

Hélène –  Hello Mousumi. I’m not really sure how to answer it because, you know, I know him since we are little. I grew up with him so I’m used to it. But I know that when we are training, sometimes I have to repeat a lot of things. Repeat, repeat, and that’s when you want something to happen, maybe take three months, maybe it will be six months, we don’t know at first, because sometimes you just find the right words and then it’s perfect. But then sometimes we just push and push and push and it never happens. Then someday we don’t know what we did and it’s done. So, it takes a lot of time and a lot of energy to do it.

Mousumi – And how long have you been training him?

Hélène –  I’ve been training him since 2015, I guess, when it was his first World championship because it was difficult for our club to manage both planification and as I was the only one who was free to travel with him a lot of times so I took the job.

Mousumi – Why did you decide to coach him?

Hélène –  Because no other coach was keen to go with him. They saw it like a waste of time, you know. They just wanted to go to the Belgium championships and other championships and it was really sad for us because we saw that it was a world championship for it was a great big achievement, but not for them. So luckily for me, now I’m going to the Paralympic games and it feels great.

Mousumi – And he mentioned that he participated for the first time in the Paralympics in Tokyo. Has the perception of those coaches changed after he became a Paralympian?

Hélène –  Yeah, I got a lot of messages saying that now they want Aymeric to be in their team and they are going to make him to competition. But, now I don’t want to leave him. I have put so much effort and made him into a Paralympian.

Mousumi – And can you tell us how he feels before a competition? Does he feel pressure before the event or is he very calm, can you talk us through his competition time?

Hélène –  No, he has a lot of pressure his pressure. Aymeric loves to follow his habits, so I know it, so you know things have to be clear and stay in the right order. But of course, when you are in a competition, anything can happen. And so I feel to minimize the risk, you know, and I know what to do, what will be difficult for him and so I anticipate it. So everything will be cool for him, but when he’s going to the call room, I’m not there anymore, so he has to make the effort by himself and that’s where it’s going to be difficult for him.

Mousumi – Has he ever faced problems inside the call rooms?

Hélène –  Yes, lots of problems because he likes to be in his bubble. But sometimes other swimmers are putting pressure on him because they are sitting too close or making some loud noises, you know, there’s a lot of things we have to work on it. And,  sometimes he just feels pressured because he doesn’t know if he’s in the right heat because he doesn’t speak English, and sometimes you don’t have your number on your chair, so it’s not something that you have to think, plus, to swim, you know he has to think about everything and then he is behind his starting block and sometimes he cannot focus on the race because of everything that happened just before.

Mousumi – So as we see, there are assistants or supporters for other para-athletes. Do you think it’s important for athletes with an intellectual impairment to have support to guide them through this?

Hélène –  Yes, I think so. They need some support because when you have people on a wheelchair, you don’t say to them- “no, make an effort and walk”, you know. And for them, because they are able-bodied, they have to make that effort. But if they could do things without needing additional support, they won’t be in para-swimming, they will be in mainstream swimming at the Olympics. So I think it’s a bit unfair for them, yeah.

Mousumi – And do you think it’s difficult for people to understand what athletes with intellectual impairment go through because their impairment is invisible?

Hélène –  Yes, it is. We have lots of reflection on this, even when we are at our pool and swimming and he doesn’t see another swimmer and just swims across him/her because he didn’t see them. It makes other people angry. And I try to explain that it wasn’t made on purpose and it’s so, so difficult to explain that even if it doesn’t show his face, there is an impairment he has, you know.

Mousumi – How can we support these athletes?

Hélène –  I already thought about it and I think that maybe for example in the call room it would be great to have pictograms. You know when they are entering the call room they are asked- show me your cap, show me your goggles, show me your swimsuit. But it’s in English so maybe if you had some image of this to be easier. And maybe we can just. Translator, but also for them it will be best. And yeah, and try to put the number on the chair, on the call room, that’s very important.

Mousumi – Anything else like outside the call room? From the official side or from in the rulebooks you think something is necessary, which if we adapt to it can help and support?

Hélène –   Yeah, when we were in France in the general room. For example, there was some picture on it or some flags, so he knows where he has to go where it’s his right place. That makes things easier for him. And I also think that when they have to pull them back, for example, sometimes it’s difficult because he has difficulty with coordination. So if you do official can help it would be great.

Mousumi– And we have come across athletes who used to train with mainstream sports athletes. Sometimes this works well but sometimes not. Did Aymeric have a similar experience?

Hélène –  Yeah, I think that when we begin to swim a lot, we had to change the clip where he was in a disability club and there he has a lot of friends, you know, because they had the same topic, the same games and they could talk together, but they had only two training per week, so it was not enough. So we tried to find another club with mainstream swimmers and yeah, it was very difficult for him because he wasn’t able to be himself. He was left a bit on the corner because he couldn’t find any enjoyment in the conversation and so on. Then we tried to find a way that two times a week go to the previous club so that he can speak with his friends and the rest of the week he practices with the mainstream athletes. We tried to find a balance in his training schedule which was very important for him.

Mousumi – Is there any message you would like to give to other sisters or family members who have someone with intellectual impairment?

Hélène –  It’s a difficult job because you have to put a lot of your own time into it and sometimes you don’t have any recognition, but it is worth it.