Ander Cepas, Spanish hero at the Costa Brava Spanish Para Open

Last year’s winner in France and Thailand, when play concluded on Saturday night 11 March at the ITTF Costa Brava Spanish Para Open 2023 in Platja d’Aro, Ander Cepas lifted the toast for the host nation.

Furthermore, he emphasized the fact that he is a very important name in the future; just 18 years old, he caused one of the biggest surprises of the entire tournament.

Competing in the men’s singles category 9, he edged out Japan’s Koyo Iwabuchi, the top seed, by the narrowest of margins (11-5, 12-14, 13-11, 3-11, 11-9) before securing the title. at the expense of fellow Spaniard Jorge Cardona, the No. 2 seed (13-11, 14-12, 11-8).

Perhaps a surprise result, but Ander Cepas likes Platja dAro, he won in 2021 after being silver medalist last year.

He later partnered Jorge Cardona for the Men’s Doubles Class 18 gold, the pair representing the French duo of Thomas Bouvais and Mateo Boheas (11-5, 7-11, 11-3, 11-6) to claim the gold. Earlier in the day, he had joined forces with Olaia Martinez to win the mixed doubles Class 20 silver, at the final hurdle the pair were defeated by Brazilians Paulo Fonseca and Bruna Alexandre (9-11, 11-5, 13-11, 11-7).

Bruna Alexandre’s success meant that she left Platja DAro under her two names; earlier she had secured women’s singles category 9-10 gold.

Likewise, Norway’s Aida Dahlen and Germany’s Sandra Mikolaschek claimed two titles, but the leading lady was France’s Morgan Caillaud; Like Ander Cepas, he added silver to his golden collection.

Aida Dahlen won the women’s singles in grade 8 before adding the women’s doubles title in grade 14 alongside her colleague Merethe Tveiten; Sandra Mikolaschek emerged victorious in the women’s singles category 4-5 before teaming up with Thomas Brchle, also of Germany, to take the mixed doubles category 10 gold.

Likewise, Morgen Caillaud won gold in the women’s singles category 6-7. Later in Class 14 in harness with fellow Frenchmen, she secured mixed doubles gold alongside Clement Berthier and silver in women’s doubles in harness with Lucie Hautre.

Two titles; In addition to Ander Cepas, it was the same for the Germans Thomas Schmidberger and Valentin Baus. In men’s singles, Thomas Schmidberger won gold in category 3, Valentin Baus in category 5; together they booked the top prize in the men’s doubles category 8.

The success of Thomas Schmidberger and Valentin Baus in the men’s singles events as expected, they started playing the top seeds; the same was the case with France’s Fabien Lamirault (class 2), Thomas Bouvais (class 8) and Mateo Boheas (class 10). Danish Peter Rosenmeier (grade 6) and Belgian Florian van Acker (grade 11) also justified their top ranking.

For Thomas Bouvais in particular, it was another success this year; in February he won in Egypt.

Expected results, but there were surprises in the men’s singles, Ander Cepas was not alone. Kim Hakjin defeated top-ranked Republic of Korea counterpart Joo Youngdae (11-9, 11-9, 4-11, 9-11, 11-6) to claim the Class 1 gold; likewise, Japan’s Kazuki Shichino defeated France’s Maxime Thomas to become the class 4 champion.

Not to be overlooked, Brazil’s Israel Stroh upset the order of merit to win Class 7 gold. At the end of the match, he represented the Dutchman Jean-Paul Montanus (11-8, 2-11, 7-11, 13-11, 11-9).

Meanwhile, in women’s singles, surprise winners were very much in the minority. Sandra Mikolaschek, Morgen Caillaud, Aida Dahlen and Bruna Alexandre all started as favourites, the situation also concerned the French Lea Ferney. The reigning world champion won class 11.

The only major upset came in Class 1-3; Carlotta Ragazzini from Italy became the surprise winner. He won the category 1-3, but in the semi-finals he defeated Republic of Korea’s Lee Migyu, the top seed (11-9, 7-11, 13-11, 11-5), before securing. at the last expense of the title Brazilian Thais Severo (12-14, 11-8, 11-8, 14-12).

Now attention turns to the Adriatic coast in northern Italy, the ITTF Lignano Masters Para Open 2023 starts on Wednesday 15th March.