Notable names stumbled on the opening day at the Paralympic World Qualification Tournament 2024 in Pattaya, it was no different on the second day of action, Friday 24th May.

In the mens singles events, on duty in class 1, Great Britains Tom Matthews, and in class 9, Ross Wilson, both top seeded, experienced quarter-final defeats. Matthews was beaten by Italys Andrea Borgato (11-5, 11-8, 8-11, 5-11, 11-2); Wilson by Chinas Liu Chaodong (12-10, 3-11, 11-7, 11-9).

Borgato now faces Mexicos Victor Reyes, the no.2 seed, Liu Chaodong opposes Japans Koyo Iwabuchi, also second seeded.
Rather differently in class 5 for Serbias Mitar Palikuca and in class 2 for Thailands Thirayu Chuewong, both top seeded it was a day of recovery.

Each had experienced defeat in the group phase; Chuewong booked his semi-final place by overcoming Spains Daniel Rodriguez, the no.2 seed (11-5, 11-9, 11-8); in a similar vein Palikuca accounted for Indonesias Tato Hardiyanto (11-9, 11-7, 11-8).

The winner of the Palicuka versus Hardiyanto contest has a potential final meeting against Great Britains Jack Hunter-Spivey, bronze medallist in Tokyo.

In the counterpart semi-final Hunter Spivey opposes Brazils Lucas Arabian, a player in form; at the quarter-final stage he ended the progress of Turkeys Hamza Caliskan (9-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-5), the player on the opening day who had beaten Mitar Palikuca (14-12, 11-8, 11-8).

Problems for leading names but still alive; conversely without any hiccups, Croatias Mladen Ciric and Frenchman, Sylvain Noel, the top names in class 3, progressed as did Chinas Shi Yanping and Krszysztof Zylka in class 4.

Likewise, in class 10, Chinese Taipeis Su Jin-Sian and Chiles Manuel Echaveguran booked penultimate round places.

The top seeds on course, in class 6 and class 8, the respective leading names meet in the penultimate round; in the former Chiles Matias Pino faces Swedens Michael Azuly, in the latter, Croatias Borna Zohil opposes Hungarys Andras Csoka.

One day earlier, Michael Azulay and Borna Zohil had finished runners up in their respective groups.

Second seeded and still alive, alas for Polands Michal Deigsler, the no.2 seed in class 7, the quarter-finals witnessed the end of the road; he was beaten by Thailands Suriyone Thapeng (11-6, 6-11, 11-4, 9-11, 12-10).

Disappointment for Deigsler, for colleague Maciej Makajew in class 11, it is trepidation; the top seed in class 11 and winner earlier this year in Astana, competing in an all-play-all event, he has one defeat against his name. He lost to Frenchman Timothe Vivaldi (11-6, 4-11, 13-11, 11-5).

In the concluding contest Makajew meets Japans hitherto unbeaten Takeshi Takamori; the contest will decide the Paris place.
Farewell to the top seeds in the mens singles, it was the same in the womens singles.

Competing in class 3, Turkeys Hatice Dulman experienced a semi-final defeat when facing Thailands Patamawarde Intanon (9-11, 11-9, 15-13, 6-11, 11-8).

Patamawarde Intanon now opposes Mexicos Edith Sigala, the no.2 seed, in the final.

Journeys end for the top seed; in class 6, neither Romanias Camelia Ciripan nor Korea Republics Lee Kunwoo, the top two names, advanced beyond the group stage.

The name to note is that of Maliak Alieva, silver medallist in Tokyo, at the semi-final stage she meets Polands Barbara Jablonka; in the opposite half of the draw. Swedens Cajsa Stadler opposes Hong Kongs Pang Wing.

Otherwise, in the majority, the aspirations harboured by the leading names are alive and well.

In class 1-2 Argentinas Maria Garonne and Serbias Ana Zelen remain on course as in class 4 does Thailands Wijittra Jaion alongside Irem Oluk.

Following suit, in class 7 Mexicos Giselle Muñoz and Victoriya Safanova, an independent athlete, have booked semi-final places as in class 8 have Brazils Sofia Kelmer and Frederique van Hoof of the Netherlands.

Meanwhile, in class 5, Israels Caroline Tabib is through to the penultimate round but for the next in line, Swedens Ingela Lundbäck, the no.2 seed and bronze medallist in Tokyo, it was group third place and journeys end.

Bronze in Tokyo; for Elena Prokofeva, an independent athlete, it was gold; the no.2 seed, a semi-final place was duly reserved, the opponent Turkeys Sumeyra Turk. In the adjacent half of the draw, the Czech Republics Denisa Macurova confronts Chinese Taipeis Li Jing-Shuian.
Tense finishes on the menu but could the closest of all be in womens singles class 10, an all-play-all event?

Japans Nozomi Nakamura, the top seed, experienced defeat when opposing Swedens Anja Handen (10-12, 11-9, 11-5, 11-5); one day earlier

Handen had lost to Chinas Hou Chunxiao (11-13, 11-9, 11-8, 6-11, 11-9). Handen has completed her itinerary with just one defeat, the same for Nozomi Nakamura, Hou Chunxiao is unbeaten.

Nozomi Nakamura and Hou Chunxiao meet in the concluding contest.

One day remains, a day of destiny.