The 2nd Fazza-Dubai Para-Badminton International 2019 came to a close with all but one win going to Asia. It was the second chance athletes had to secure vital rankings points as they chase qualifying positions for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

Europe’s hero, Lucas Mazur (France) defeated India’s Tarun 21-13, 21-17 to take the men’s singles (SL4) title. The win made up for his earlier loss in the mixed doubles (SL3-SU5) when he and partner Noel Faustine were beaten by top seeds Hary Susanto/Leani Ratri Oktila (Indonesia) 21-19, 21-15.

China took two women’s singles titles with Yang Quixia defeating Japan’s Ayako Suzuki 21-18, 21-13 in the SU5 class, while Cheng Hefang (China) beat Oktila (Indonesia) in the SL4 class 21-15, 21-15.

However, Oktila later avenged her loss when she partnered Khalimatus Sadiyah Sukohandoko in a hard-fought 8-21, 21-12, 21-16 win against China’s Cheng Hefang/ Ma Huihui in the women’s doubles (SL3-SU5).

Indonesia also claimed the two men’s doubles and one men’s singles titles.

Dwiyoko/Fredy Setiawan (Indonesia) defeated Jan-Niklas Pott/Pascal Wolter (Germany) 21-15, 21-18 to win the men’s doubles (SL3-SL4).

Dheva Anrimusthi (Indonesia) was twice a winner when he first beat Malaysia’s Liek Hou Cheah 21-19, 18-21, 21-16 in the men’s singles (SU5), which was recorded as the longest match of the day at one hour and nine minutes.

“Cheah is definitely more experienced but in the five times that I have played him I have only lost once. Maybe because I’m faster on court,” said Anrimusthi.

Liek Hou said, “Dheva is much younger, faster and more accurate with his shots. My movements were slow today. I want to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics so I plan on working on my fitness, strength and agility.”

Anrimusthi then partnered Suryo Nugroho (Indonesia) in the men’s doubles (SU5) to beat Raj Kumar/Rakesh Pandey (IND) 22-20, 21-14.

India however, proved their mettle in four sport classes.

The women’s singles (SL3) was an all-India final with Parul Dalsukhbai Parmar the victor against compatriot Manasi Girishchandra Joshi, 21-12, 21-19.

In the men’s singles (SL3), Pramod Bhagat (India) seemed a mild opponent when he succumbed the first game 15-21 to Daniel Bethell (England) but bounced back to overcome Bethell 21-18, 21-13.

In the SS6 class, Nagar Krishna (India) battled it out with Krysten Coombs (England) in a match that had the crowd on the edge of their seats as Krishna took the crown scoring 20-22, 25-23, 21-13. Krishna said, “I played Coombs in 2018 and won so I knew he was going to be tough to beat but I think my advantage was my reach and speed on court.”

Krishna added another title to his name when he partnered Raja Magotra (India) to overcome Chinese pair Lin Naili/Luo Guangliang 22-20, 21-13, in the men’s doubles (SS6).

China dominated the wheelchair events with four wins in total, with Korea claiming two and Japan one.

The women’s singles in WH1 and WH2 were all-China affairs. In WH1, Zhang Jing (China) overcame Yin Menglu 21-13, 21-13 while in the WH2 Liu Yutong beat Li Hongyan 21-5, 21-10 in 21 minutes, the shortest match of the day.

In the men’s singles (WH1), Qu Zimao added to his win in Turkey last week by defeating Korea’s Choi Jung Man 21-19, 21-14. Qu Zimao then partnered Liu Yutong to overcome Swiss duo Luca Olgiati/Karin Suter-Erath 21-5, 21-10 in the mixed doubles (WH1-WH2).

Korea, however, was not to be outdone as seen in the efforts of Kim Jung Jun who beat Chan Ho Yuen (HKG) 15-21, 21-13, 21-19 in the men’s singles (WH2). The result was a reversal of their pair’s showdown in Turkey last week.,

“Chan is highly skilled and very strong and I was nervous going into the match but I have set myself a high goal for the Paralympics and I am determined to succeed,” Kim said.

Korea also triumphed against Japan’s Daiki Kajiwara/Hiroshi Murayama, winning 21-17, 21-7, in the men’s doubles (WH1-WH2) class.

It was the Japanese women who kept the flag flying as Sarina Satomi/Yuma Yamazaki beat China’s Xu Tingting/Zhang Jing 21-15, 21-13, in the women’s doubles (WH1-WH2) class.

“We have played each of them in the singles and combined our knowledge to get ahead. The other advantage I think is our rotation style movement on court,” said Yamazaki.

See full results here.