The five-day event in Voisins-le-Bretonneux provided exceptional competition while serving as a moving tribute to British performance director Gorazd Vecko MBE, who passed away on Friday 25 October. A minute’s silence was observed at the opening of the tournament in honor of the Slovenian coach whose dynamic leadership had inspired countless athletes throughout his impressive career.
British team honors fallen leader
A 16-strong British Para table tennis contingent honored their late Performance Director throughout the tournament, showcasing the fighting spirit and resilience Vecko had instilled during his tenure in the squad.
The British contingent achieved excellent results across the competition, claiming seven singles medals and three gold medal victories. Felicity Pickard emerged victorious in a dramatic five-set women’s final in Class 6 against Gulmira Gonobina Robert Davis captured men’s class 1 gold and William Bayley delivered an impressive performance to win the men’s Class 7 title.
Bronze medals followed Bly Twomey (ladies class 7), Paul Karabardak (men’s class 6), Aaron McKibbin (men’s class 8), and Joshua Stacey (Men’s Class 9), with each athlete fighting for every point in honor of their fallen coach.
BPTT Program Manager Shaun Marples reflected on the team’s remarkable achievement: “What the team has been able to achieve in recent days since learning of Gorazd’s passing and wanting to compete in his honor really demonstrates the strong family culture that Gorazd has instilled within this team over a number of years. It was bigger than hitting a ball on the table. It was about doing it for Gorazd.”
Singles champions crowned
France celebrated multiple champions all week, with Fabien Lamirault He delivered passionate performances that culminated in reaching the men’s Class 2 final, where he defeated Poland’s Rafal Czuper in a closely contested match.
Mateo Boheas secured France’s eye-catching singles victory by claiming the men’s Class 10 gold, beating Chilean Manuel Echaveguren 3-1 (11-9, 7-11, 11-8, 11-5) in front of a jubilant home crowd. The young Frenchman’s consistent form throughout the tournament showed why he continues to be one of the sport’s rising stars.
Several established champions cemented their status during the Elite season finale.
Germany Thomas Schmidberger produced a masterclass in the men’s Class 3 final, beating US number one Jenson van Emburgh 3-1 (11-8, 6-11, 11-7, 14-12) to claim his first Elite title of the season. The victory demonstrated the enduring quality and tactical brilliance of the German legend.
Belgium Laurens Devos regained supremacy in men’s class 9, beating Spaniard Ander Cepas 3-0 (11-6, 11-5, 14-12) in the final. The result represented a major statement from Devos after Cepas ended his eight-year reign as world number one earlier this season.
The Netherlands Kelly van Zon maintained her WS7 dominance with a clinical 3-1 (11-6, 11-9, 8-11, 11-5) victory over Turkey’s Kubra Korkut, while Poland’s Rafal Czuper secured MS2 gold and Natalia Partyka claimed women’s class 9-10 honors.
Japanese Natsuki Wada continued her excellent form by winning gold in the women’s class 11, beating Turkey’s Ebru Acer 3-0 (11-9, 11-8, 11-7). Compatriot and teenage sensation Sophia Kelmer, however, saw her remarkable run end in the WS8 final, where Japan’s Yuri Tomono won 3-1 (12-10, 12-14, 11-3, 11-7) to claim the title.
Germany Valentin Baus won gold in the men’s 4-5 class with a five-set thriller against Japan’s Kazuki Shichino, winning 3-2 (11-7, 9-11, 7-11, 11-6, 13-11), while the Danish Peter Rozenmeier took the honors in the men’s Class 6 in another five-set epic against Paralympic champion Matteo Parenzan.
Croatia Andela Muzinic Vincetic dominated the final of the women’s 2-3 division, beating Brazil’s Marliane Amaral Santos 3-0 (11-6, 11-4, 11-6) and Germany’s Sandra Mikolaschek bounced back from group stage struggles to claim gold in the women’s 4-5 division.
that of Finland Timo Kalevi Natunen triumphed in the men’s class 1, while that of Ukraine Maksym Nikolenko won gold in men’s class 8, and that of Poland Maciej Makajew won the men’s class 11 honors.
Double excellence
The last two days witnessed a spectacular doubles match across all events, with several countries celebrating multiple titles.
The host country enjoyed significant doubles success, with Fabien Lamirault and Julien Michaud he claimed gold in the men’s doubles class 4, beating Slovak Jan Riapos and Peter Lovas in the final. The French duo’s victory capped a memorable week for Lamirault, despite his eventual singles defeat.
Mateo Boheas and Thomas Bouvais completed Boheas’ excellent tournament by winning gold in the men’s doubles, class 18, beating Ukrainians Lev Kats and Ivan Mai 3-0 (11-7, 11-5, 11-8) in a dominant match.
Clement Berthier and Morgen Caillaud achieved Class 14 honors in mixed doubles, beating Poland’s Maksym Chudzicki and Katarzyna Marszal 3-2 (5-11, 11-5, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9) in a thrilling final that showcased the tactical excellence of both pairs.
Germany Valentin Baus and Thomas Schmidberger added gold in the Class 8 men’s doubles to their singles successes, beating Frenchmen Florian Merrien and Emeric Martin 3-2 (6-11, 11-5, 6-11, 11-7, 14-12) in an epic five-set final.
Thomas Bruechle and Sandra Mikolaschek achieved honors in the Class 7 mixed doubles after a dramatic group stage ending with their victory over Frenchmen Florian Merrien and Flora Vautier in a decisive final group match.
Italy Federico Crosara and Giada Rossi claimed gold in the Class 4 mixed doubles, beating compatriots Federico Falco and Carlotta Ragazzini 3-0 (11-4, 11-9, 11-6) in an all-Italian final.
Croatia Borna Zohil and Mirjana Lucić won gold in the mixed doubles class 17-20, beating the Japanese Koyo Iwabuchi and Yuri Tomono 3-1 (11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6) in the final.
Turkey Irem Oluk and Nergiz Altintas fourth gold in the women’s doubles class 5-10 with a 3-1 (11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 11-9) victory over Brazilian Thais Fraga Severo and Marliane Amaral Santos.
Ukraine had a successful double campaign, with Iryna Shynkarova and Anniek van ‘t Holt (Netherlands) claims women’s doubles class 14-20 with a 3-2 (4-11, 11-6, 11-7, 9-11, 11-2) victory over Olga Gorshkaleva and Anastasia Kostenevich.
Sweden Emil Andersson and Michael Azulay won gold in the men’s doubles class 14, beating the Dutch Jean Paul Montanus and Yannick Paredis 3-1 (11-7, 12-17, 11-5, 11-7) in the final.
Brazil Lucas Carvalhal and Thais Fraga Severo achieved honors in the Class 10 mixed doubles after winning their group stage with victories over several strong pairs.
Circuit continues
The conclusion of the Yvelines Elite event marks the end of the top level for the inaugural revamped ITTF World Para Circuit, although the circuit itself will continue with one final Challenger event before the end of the year.
The three-tiered structure – Future, Challenger and Elite – has delivered exactly what was promised in 2025: unprecedented opportunities for athletes at all levels, clear pathways for advancement and a growth-oriented competitive atmosphere.
The new ranking system, which awards points based on athletes’ top six results from the past year, has created compelling stories throughout the season, with weekly rankings in singles, doubles and mixed doubles categories providing transparency and motivation.
With athletes now turning their attention to 2026 – when World Cup qualifying begins in earnest – the Yvelines tournament will be remembered not only for its exceptional competition, but also for its powerful tribute to Gorazd Vecko, whose legacy will continue to inspire the sport for years to come.
The British team’s program manager, Shaun Marples, summed up the sentiment perfectly: “This is the start of the British Defense Force’s fight to honor Gorazd and continue his legacy for years to come.”
The Elite Series concludes in style, with Yvelines providing a fitting end to the highest level of a year that has redefined the excellence of Para table tennis.
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