From November 9 to 12, the 3rd edition of the SQY Para TT French Open International Tournament took place. This competition allowed the French to compete against the best 10 months before the Paralympic Games.
Organized by the French Handisport Federation, the SQY Para TT French Open 2023 International Tournament welcomed more than 280 players, from 37 different nations, who faced each other in the singles and doubles tables. The objective: to collect points in the international ranking, with a view to qualifying for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. My qualification for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games is mainly in women’s doubles. This is how I will be able to obtain my qualification », Confided in particular Flora Vautier, athlete of Team SPORTMAG.
Unfortunately, in the ladies’ doubles the Nîmese was not accompanied by her usual partner. Flora Vautier was with the Englishwoman, Megan Shackleton. The two para table tennis players lost in the semi-final against the Chinese pair composed of the fifth in the world Pan Jiamin and the fourth in the world, Gu Xiaodan. In doubles, the only French people to have managed to win are the duo composed of Emeric Martin and Maxime Thomas. They won the gold medal against Indonesians Astan Adyos and Gunaya Yayang.
A high level both in doubles and singles
The world number four in his category, Maxime Thomas, made it two by also winning in the final of the singles table against the Turk Turan Nesim. The only other Frenchman in the final of his category, Clément Berthier, lost to the Swede Emile Andersson. The important thing was above all to collect points for the ranking, like many French para table tennis players like Stéphane Messi, Mateo Bohéas, Lucas Didier, Léa Ferney, Esteban Herrault or Timothé Ivaldi who reached the semi-finals, synonymous with bronze medal.
