Leani Ratri Oktila featured prominently at the recent Thailand Para-Badminton International 2017, capturing three gold medals in the four-day tournament.
The Indonesian para-athlete competed unbeaten, winning 15 matches in singles and doubles events across the SL 3, SL 4 and SU 5 sport classes. The triple gold medallist conquered all in Women’s Singles SL 4, beating Thailand’s Nipada Seangsupa (21-11 21-8) in the final. She partnered her compatriot Hary Susanto to glory in Mixed Doubles SL 3 – SU 5, overcoming Lucas Mazur and Faustine Noel of France, 21-7 21-11, for the gold medal. Oktila also shared the spotlight with Thailand’s Wannaphatdee Kamtam in Women’s Doubles L 3 – SU 5. The winners beat Japan’s Mamiko Toyoda and Yamada Asami, 21-13 21-13 in the final.
Five other players also excelled at the 1-4 June event, each winning two golds. Thailand’s Amnouy Wetwithan and Sujirat Pookhum reigned supreme in Women’s Singles WH 2 and Women’s Singles WH 1 respectively. They teamed up to wrest gold in Women’s Doubles WH 1 – WH 2, beating Korea’s Kim Yeon Sim and Son Ok Cha, 21-18 21-13.
Also in wheelchair action, Kim Jung Jun again stamped his authority on the proceedings. The WH 2 athlete won Men’s Singles, ousting Hong Kong’s Chan Ho Yuen (21-18 21-12) for gold. Kim and his Korean team-mate, Lee Sam Seop added to their country’s golden tally with a 21-16 21-12 win over their compatriots, Kim Kyung Hoon and Lee Dong Seop.
Hong Kong’s Wong Chun Yim starred in the SS 6 sport class, with victories in Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles. He and fellow Hong Kong player, Chu Man Kai, won all of their matches versus three other pairs in the round-robin format for the doubles competition. Fredy Setiawan of Indonesia also achieved a double in the SL 4 sport class, striking gold in Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles with Daisuke Fujihara of Japan.
Meanwhile, Japan swept the medals in Women’s Singles SU 5, with Ayako Suzuki emerging from among four semi-finalists from her country to take gold. Mamiko Toyoda won silver while Kameyama Kaede and Akiko Sugino shared bronze.
The tournament, hosted by the Sports Association for the Disabled of Thailand (SADT), saw 15 countries participating, including Australia, England, Germany, India, Malaysia, Poland, Singapore, Switzerland and Turkey.
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