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The Australian Para-Table tennis team campaign got underway today at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, with all 11 Aussies taking to the court during an action-packed day of competition.
The morning session started with some strong results, with Lina Lei and Ma Lin delivering dominant performances. The multiple Paralympic gold medallists, representing Australia for the first time after representing China at previous Games, showed no signs of lacking international competition in the build-up to Tokyo, both producing convincing straight-match wins against tough opposition.
Lei and Lin both appeared confident and settled with their new teammates and coaches. The other matches for the morning didn’t quite go the Aussies way with Rebecca Julian, Nathan Pellissier and Danni di Toro all going down in three games. Trevor Hirth was able to take his match to a fourth game, but eventually conceded defeat.
All players said it was good to get the nerves and first match out of the way after missing international competition for so long.
“I haven’t had an international match for over two years and that’s a big deal when you’re developing as an athlete,” said Australian Paralympic team co-captain Danni Di Toro.
“I’ve come from tennis to table tennis and it takes at least 10 years to have half a clue. But every opportunity to play with these women, who are the best in the world, is an awesome opportunity. It would have been nice to feel a little bit comfier a little bit earlier, but that’s just the nature of the beast right now,” she said.
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Joel Coughlan was first up in the afternoon, representing Australia in the Men’s class 10. The Queenslander put up a good fight, but ended up going down in a tense four-game match in which three of the sets were decided by the narrowest of margins.
Melissa Tapper’s match was also a close contest, but the three-time Paralympian was able to mount a solid comeback after conceding the first game tod take an important 3-1 win against Lin (TPE).
“I loved every second that I was out there,” Tapper said after the match. “Even after losing the first set, I was somehow still enjoying myself. It’s never easy going down in the first set and I guess I blew out some cobwebs too, but it was nice to finish with a win.
“It’s an absolute privilege to get to be here and I think the whole Paralympic movement is something incredibly special. I hope everyone at home is getting to enjoy it,” she said.
Tapper’s victory puts the Australian in a good position ahead of tomorrow’s tough contest against rival Bruna of Brazil, but the Aussie said she plans to keep taking it one point at a time.
“Bruna is a fantastic match, we always have a great challenge with one another. What I am doing so far is working so I’ve just got to keep sticking to the process and trusting myself. I am just looking forward to stepping out there and playing again tomorrow,” she said.
In the evening four-time Paralympic medallist Qian Yang put another win on the board for Australia defeating world no. 7 Zhao of China in five matches.
Unfortunately the Aussies could not keep the winning streak going, with Sam von Einem and Jake Ballestrino both losing in four games.
Two-time Paralympic champion Li Na Lei was back in action against Rio bronze medallist Karolina Pek of Poland to round up the day’s proceedings.
It was a tightly contested match and Pek had three game points to force a decider in the fourth game, but the Aussie brilliantly denied the Polish world no.2 to come away with the game and a 3-1 win. Lei was stoked to keep her perfect record after two matches, her sights now firmly set on a semifinal berth.
“I did have some problems, but I managed to do it! It’s a great feeling and it was awesome to have all my teammates behind me to support me and help me win this game,” she said.
The preliminary stage matches continue tomorrow with Ma Lin the first of the Aussies to play at 10am AEST.
Australian team results – 25 August 2021
- Women’s Class 4 – Daniela di Toro v Sandra Mikolaschek (GER) 0-3 (6-11, 4-11, 11-13)
- Women’s Class 6 – Rebecca Julian v Maryna Lytovchenko (UKR) 0-3 (2-11, 6-11, 8-11)
- Women’s Class 9 – Li Na Lei v Jennyfer Marques Parinos (BRA) 3-0 (11-4, 11-8, 11-4)
- Women’s Class 9 – Li Na Lei v Karolina Pek (POL) 3-1 (11-6, 9-11, 11-5, 12-10)
- Women’s Class 10 – Melissa Tapper v Txu Yu Lin (TPE) 3-1 (9-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-9)
- Women’s Class 10 – Qian Yang v Xiaojing Zhao (CHN) 3-2 (15-13, 10-12, 9-11, 11-9, 11-3)
- Men’s Class 6 – Trevor Hirth v Bobi Simion (ROU) 1-3 (7-11, 13-11, 2-11, 3-11)
- Men’s Class 7 – Jake Ballestrino v Sayed Mohamed Youssef (EGY) 1-3 (5-11, 11-8, 2-11, 9-11)
- Men’s Class 8 – Nathan Pellissier v Aaron McKibbin (GBR) 0-3 (9-11, 5-11, 5-11)
- Men’s Class 9 – Lin Ma v Joshua Stacey (GBR) 3-0 (11-3, 11-4, 11-6)
- Men’s Class 10 – Joel Coughlan v Filip Radovic (MNE) 1-3 (11-13, 13-11, 7-11, 9-11)
- Men’s Class 11 – Sam von Einem v Takashi Asano (JPN) 1-3 (11-7, 6-11, 6-11, 6-11)
Australian team schedule – 26 August 2021 (all times AEST)
- 10am – Ma Lin v M. Kalem (ITA)
- 2pm – Sam von Einem v G.T. Kim (KOR)
- 2.40pm – Danni di Toro v N. Matic (SRB) – on 7plus*
- 5pm – Joel Coughlan v A. Olufemi (NGR)
- 5.40pm – Qian Yang v S.W. Tien (TPE)
- 6.20pm – Melissa Tapper v B.A. Costa (BRA)
- 7pm – Jake Ballestrino v M. Inoue (JPN) – on 7plus*
- 7.40pm – Ma Lin v C. Chee (MAS)
- 9pm – Rebecca Julian v H. Hammad (EGY)
- 9.40pm – Nathan Pellissier v P. Grudzien (POL)
- 10.20pm – Li Na Lei v K.H. Kim (KOR) *subject to change.
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By: Paralympics Australia
Posted: 25 August 2021
