Thai WH1 star Sujirat Pookkham was back on top of a podium in a singles event after three long years following success at Spanish Para Badminton International 2024 I in Toledo on Saturday.
Pookkham, whose last singles title also came in Spain in 2021, surprised top seed Sarina Satomi 14-21 21-17 21-8 in 44 minutes in the final to secure victory. This is Satomi’s first career defeat in a singles final.
It also ended Pookkham’s five-match losing streak to the Japanese world No.1. The 38-year-old had not beaten Satomi since the semifinal of the Japan Para Badminton International in 2019.
Satomi shows her class by congratulating Pookkham.
Paralympic gold medallist Satomi, however, topped the doubles category with Yuma Yamazaki to take home the WH1-WH2 gold.
Meanwhile, Lucas Mazur ended his own men’s singles title drought on the Para badminton circuit by seeing off Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj 21-18 21-6 in the SL4 final. His most recent victory before Saturday was at the 4 Nations Para Badminton International in August.
Seven singles players – Chu Man Kai (men’s SH6), Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan (women’s SH6), Nitesh Kumar (men’s SL3), Mariam Eniola Bolaji (women’s SL3), Helle Sofie Sagoy (women’s SL4), Cheah Liek Hou (men’s SU5) and Daiki Kajiwara (men’s WH2) repeated their triumphs from last week at Spanish Para Badminton International 2024 II held in Vitoria.
Malaysian Cheah also won gold in SU5 men’s doubles with Muhammad Fareez Anuar, overcoming Hardik Makkar/Ruthick Ragupathi 21-16 22-20.
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