Paris Places Secured but Home Soil in Taipei City is the Immediate Stop for In Form Quartet
Written by I Dig Sports![](https://www.ittf.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CHENG-Ming-Chih_PTT-Platja-DAro_Alvaro-Diaz_214-3-copy-scaled.jpg)
Places in the forthcoming Paris 2024 Paralympic Games secured, Cheng Ming-Chih and Chen Po-Yen, alongside Tian Shiau-Wen and Lin Tzu-Yu head the host associations hopes at the forthcoming 2024 ITTF Taipei City Para Open.
A factor 20 tournament for World ranking points, staged over a four-day period, play commences on Wednesday 29th May.
Top of the order is Cheng Ming-Chih; in the past five months he has provided a clear indication that he is a favourite for a medal in Paris, competing in mens singles class 5 the record reads three appearances, three titles.
In January he won in the United States, later in the year in April he succeeded in both Italy and Spain.
Impressive, not far behind are the results gained by Chen Po-Yen, a class 11 athlete; similar to Cheng-Chih, he claimed the top prize in the United States, later he succeeded in Poland, having in Brazil concluded matters a silver medallist.
Equally impressive, on duty in womens singles class 10, Tian Shiau-Wen and Lin Tzu-Yu contested the United States final, the former victorious.
Later, Tian Shiau-Wen won in Spain, having been the runner up in Brazil; Lin Tzu-Yu was a silver medallist in Italy.
Success apart, also they have enjoyed success together; they secured womens doubles titles in Italy, Spain, Poland and Slovenia.
Medals a distinct possibility but there is formidable opposition, especially for Chen Po-Yen in mens singles class 11; both Hungarys Peter Palos and Australias Samuel von Einem compete.
Gold medallist at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and more recently in Tokyo, this year has not been paved with gold; on duty in Egypt and Spain, he concluded proceedings a bronze medallist.
Rather differently, Samuel von Einem, silver medallist at the two most recent Paralympic Games, struck gold earlier this month in Slovenia.
Both Peter Palos and Samuel von Einem have booked their Paris places as in the mens singles have Australias Ma Lin and Spains Ander Cepas.
Both are listed on the Chinese Taipei City entry list; both compete in mens singles class 9. Moreover, in recent times both have made their present felt. Ander Cepas was a silver medallist in Egypt, the same colour medal as gained by Ma Lin in Italy, Montenegro and Slovenia.
Notably, on each occasion, in the final, Ma Lin was beaten by Belgiums Laurens Devos, the reigning Paralympic Games, World champion and European champion.
Similarly in the womens singles there are formidable names scheduled to compete who are Paris bound and have enjoyed success this year.
Japans Kanami Furukawa leads the list; in January she won womens singles class 11 in Egypt, before following suit in Italy and Spain.
Also, competing in Chinese Taipei city; Slovakias Alena Kanova, gold medallist at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games, and Australias Melissa Tapper emerged winners. Alena Kanova prevailed in class 3, Australias Melissa Tapper in class 9-10.
Not to be overshadowed, on duty in Chinese Taipei city, Italys Giada Rossi, the reigning World champion secured the class 2 title in both Egypt and Slovenia.
Overall, 79 men and 35 women, representing 19 member associations compete in Taipei City, the mens singles and womens singles events commence proceedings.