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Australian Tokyo 2020 gold medallist Qian Yang’s advantage over the great Natalia Partyka has extended to the Spanish Para Open, where she recorded a thrilling five-set win to secure one of the Australia’s Team’s remarkable four gold medals for the tournament.
Qian’s 11-6 deciding set triumph in the Class 10 Women’s Singles sent six-time Paralympic gold medallist Partyka to just her second loss at an international tournament since 2008. The Polish star’s first loss was also against Qian, in the semi final of the Class 10 Women’s Singles at Tokyo last year, before Qian went on to defeat Bruna Costa Alexandre of Brazil to claim the gold medal.
Australian Para-table tennis scored far and away its best result at a Paralympic Games in Tokyo when the 11-strong team won two gold and four silver medals. They backed up superbly in Spain last week, winning four gold medals and three bronze, including a gold to Lina Lei in the Class 9 Women’s Singles, maintaining her dominance since winning at Tokyo.
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“After our Australian team’s record-breaking performance at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, it’s fantastic to see the team produce another dominating performance, this time at the Spanish Para Open,” Table Tennis Australia’s National Program Manager (Para) Sue Stevenson said.
“Among the incredible results was a very special victory to Qian Yang, who beat Natalia Partyka. Natalia is an all-time legend of Para-table tennis, someone we all respect very much.
“Qian is only 25 and has such a bright future ahead representing Australia. Wins like this lift the whole squad to new levels of excellence. They can now set their sights on the Commonwealth Games and World Para Championships later this year.”
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Partyka defeated Qian in the final of the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Paralympics when Qian was representing her native China. However, in Tokyo, representing Australia at the Paralympics for the first time, she produced the match of her life to topple Partyka in their semi final 11-9 in the deciding set.
Australia’s success at the Spanish Para Open ensured the 11 athletes who attended met qualification criteria for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in July and the World Para Table Tennis Championships in Granada in November.
Class 10 Women’s Singles – Gold for Qian Yang
Class 10 Women’s Singles – Bronze for Melissa Tapper
Class 9 Women’s Singles – Gold for Lina Lei
Class 9 Men’s Singles – Bronze for Lin Ma
XS20 Mixed Doubles – Gold for Lin Ma & Qian Yang
WS20 Women’s Doubles – Gold for Lina Lei & Qian Yang
XS17 Mixed Doubles – Bronze for Lina Lei & Nathan Pellissier
By: David Sygall, Paralympics Australia
Posted: 29 March 2022
