Stephane Messi of France was the major casualty in the second
session of play in the Paralympic Games on Monday 8th September 2008;
the gold medallist in Athens four years ago in the Men’s Class 7
Individual event, he was beaten in the group stage in Beijing by
Mitchell Siedenfeld of the United States.
However, of the other
gold medallists from Athens who were on duty on the evening session of
the second day’s play, there were no great travails. It was case of
success after success, with experience undoubtedly counting.
Poland’s Natalia Partyka, France’s Isabelle Lafaye-Marziou, China’s
Zhang Xiaoling and Germany’s Daniel Arnold all enjoyed success.
Very Impressive
Natalia
Partyka in particular was impressive; in Women’s Individual Class 10,
she overcame China’s Lu Yugianq, the bronze medallist four years ago,
without the loss of a single game.
Gold Medallist Victorious
Meanwhile,
in Women’s Individual Class 1-2, Isabelle Lafaye-Marziou defeated
Jordan’s Maha Bargouthi, whilst women’s Individual Classes 6-8 Zhang
Xiaoling overcame Claire Mairie of France and in Men’s Individual Class
6, Daniel Arnold came through unscathed.
Good Form
Also
in good form was Italy’s Clara Podda, the top seed in Women’s
Individual Classes 1-2; she overcame Genevieve Clot of France; whilst
in Women’s Individual Class 8, Thu Kamkasomphu, also from France and
seeded one, defeated the Czech Republic’s Jaroislava Janeckova.
Similarly,
Germany’s Jochem Wollmert, the top seed and Athens silver medallist,
enjoyed success in Men’s Individual Class 7 as did bronze medallist,
Spain’s Jordi Morales.
The former defeated Smul Shur of Isreal, the latter, the Czech Republic’s Zbynek Lambert.
Europeans in Form
A
German in form and in Men’s individual Class 6 there were more
Europeans in form; Rainer Schmidt, also from Germany, the Athens silver
medallist and Denmark’s Peter Rosenmeier, the bronze medallist in 2004,
all enjoyed success.
Source: www.ittf.com
