Karabardak takes gold in Montenegro
Paul Karabardak won his first singles title for two years when taking gold in men’s class 6 at the ITTF World Para Challenger Podgorica in Montenegro today and Fliss Pickard took silver in the women’s class 6 singles.
Men’s class 6
Paul Karabardak was a 3-0 winner against 20-year-old Leon Schuep from Switzerland and secured his place in the knockout stages as group winner with a 3-0 win against Pablo Romero, the former class 7 athlete from Spain playing his first tournament since being reclassified. Karabardak received a bye into the quarterfinals and a 3-1 win against Haris Eminovic from Bosnia and Herzegovina took him through to face Georgios Mouchthis from Greece. He beat the former European team silver medallist from Greece 3-1 to progress to the final against World number five Bobi Simion. The Romanian has often been Karabardak’s nemesis, and he took the first set 11-8 but the Welshman edged a tight second set 13-11 and the third 12-10 before completing a 3-1 win, 11-8 in the fourth.
“I’m really pleased with the way I progressed through the group,” said the World doubles champion from Swansea, “and felt my level got better through the rounds. I played well in the quarters and semi against some tricky opponents, but I was patient and moved the ball well. I think I played my best in the final against a brilliant player who is in top form. I knew it would be difficult as he normally wins but I thought I still had a chance because we’ve had some close games lately. I returned serve well and exposed his middle and wide forehand really well.
“I’m over the moon as I’ve struggled over the last year in singles so to win here is a step in the right direction and hopefully something I can build on.”
Jacob Wicks lost in three close sets (12-10/11-9/12-10) against the World number 15 Benedikt Muller, the former European team bronze medallist from Germany and then produced a great performance to beat Alexander Esaulov, the former World number two and two-time European bronze medallist, competing here as an independent neutral athlete, 3-1. With Esaulov beating Muller the group was decided on countback and Wicks was unlucky not to progress.
Fellow teenager Dan Thomson was also drawn in a tough group, and he was beaten 3-0 by Georgios Mouchthis and 3-0 by 20-year-old Piotr Manturz from Poland, the World Abilitysport Youth Games champion.
Women’s class 6
Fliss Pickard was a 3-0 winner against the unranked Kinga Mihalffy from Hungary and then fought back superbly from 2-0 down against World number six Katarzyna Marszal to beat the World and European silver medallist from Poland 11-8 in the deciding set. A 3-0 win against Aigul Nassikhatova from Kazakhstan took her through to the semi-finals and a rematch with Morgen Caillaud, the World number eight from France who beat Pickard in Spain in March. With the match level at 1-1 the third set proved decisive with Pickard taking it 15-13 before securing a 3-1 win, 11-5 in the fourth.
In the final she faced the 21-year-old Paralympic champion Najlah Al Dayyeni and the World number two from Iraq was at her best in a 3-0 win.
“I’m pleased with my attitude this tournament,” said Pickard, “and very happy to get through some tough battles. There are always things to work on but today I’ve taken a step forward and I will continue to do this. It’s been a great tournament with a great team spirit, and I hope this continues.”
Men’s class 7
Theo Bishop showed all his character and potential by fighting back from 2-0 down against World number five Jean Paul Montanus to level at 2-2 but the two-time European champion and Paris 2024 bronze medallist from Netherlands took the deciding set 11-8. A 3-1 win against Azamat Orazbek from Kazakhstan secured second place in the group and he progressed to the quarterfinals with a 3-0 win against Luka Trtnik from Slovenia in the last 16. Bishop produced another great performance against Katsuyoshi Yagi to lead 2-0 before the World number three from Japan worked his way back into the match, taking the third set and then edging a tight fourth 12-10 to level at 2-2. The Asian Para Games champion took the deciding set 11-7 for a 3-2 win.
Men’s class 8
Ryan Henry lost 3-0 to World number 18 Alejandro Diaz, the European doubles bronze medallist from Spain but progressed from his group with a 3-0 win against Uros Gugolj from Montenegro. He went out in the last 16 after a 3-0 loss to Maksym Chudzicki, the World number 10 and European bronze medallist from Poland.