It’s a return to Elite action for some of the finest on the planet, as Spokane prepares to play host to the biggest ITTF Para event in the Americas yet.
From 9-13 August, the city in the heart of Washington State welcomes 195 athletes from across the globe in a history-making event.
USA Stars hoping to shine
Just over three years out from a home Paralympic Games and the locals are hoping to make statements on home soil. The USA contingent for Spokane is stacked, with legends of the sport and those looking to forge their path towards that same status sharing the same stage.
And there are few of that higher legendary status in our sport than Tahl Leibovitz. A man who has done everything, Leibovitz is on the pathway towards what could be his second Paralympic Games in his home nation, having won gold at Atlanta 1996. The MS9 great faces stiff competition in Washington State, with Paris 2024 champion Laurens Devos among a 10-person contingent aiming for success.
At the other end of the scale is an American star who is still trailblazing his way through. Jenson van Emburgh is doing the double this week, competing at both the Future and Elite events, in a move he only sees as benefitting him. “I’m actually happy to be able to play the Future before the Elite. Just to feel the hall, feel the ball, and feel the table. Everywhere you play it’s a little bit different.”
The ITTF Para series so far has seen big success for home stars at their respective tournaments. From Joyce de Oliveira in São Paulo’s Challenger event to a host of Italian Future success stories way back in March’s Lignano event, home triumphs have been a big part of the narrative. For van Emburgh, he only sees potential from what is destined to be the biggest ITTF Para event in the Americas yet.
“I feel very happy and honoured to be able to play one of the higher events in the Para circuit in my own country. I was able to win in Slovenia, so I’m trying to keep that going and hopefully I can win here on my home soil.”
A landmark event
Because not only is this the Americas’ biggest ITTF Para event to date, it’s also occurring right around the three-year countdown to what is destined to be the biggest ever Paralympic Games: LA 2028.
The greatest in the world will descend on Los Angeles from 15-27 August 2028, and this week is an opportunity to get an early glimpse of some of those who are destined to be at the heart of the medal action in three years’ time!
The champions arise
An Elite event brings elite names. It’s been the case in the two versions we’ve had so far (Lasko and Nakhon Ratchasima) and Spokane has delivered on that one too.
On the men’s side of the competition, star names from across the world are lined up for Washington State. Reigning Paralympic champions Kim Gi Tae and Kim Young Gun (Korea Republic) and the previously mentioned Laurens Devos (Belgium) all promise to be at the centre of the medal hopes, along with the likes of Rob Davies (Great Britain) and Slovakian MD4 duo, Jan Riapos and Peter Lovas.
In the women’s competition, it’s the same story as the men’s. There are reigning Paralympic singles champions in the form of Japan’s Natsuki Wada and Italy’s Giada Rossi, whilst some of those who have already thrived on the circuit this year – including Bly Twomey and Joyce de Oliveira – are putting in their final preparations.
How to follow
Four tables will be streamed live across our YouTube channel over the course of competition, and you can catch all the results as they happen on our website directly.
Keep an eye on our social media channels too for some of the best bits from the weekend of competition!
