San Sebastian, Spain – Ander Cepas, the bronze medalist from the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, is continuing his impressive form on the international stage. The Spanish table tennis star recently secured a gold medal in the individual competition and a silver in mixed doubles at the Para Challenger tournament in Lignano, Italy, adding to his recent successes at the Para Challenger event in Wladyslawowo, Poland, where he won a silver and two bronze medals.
Cepas, currently ranked number one in the world in Class 9 table tennis, according to Marca, is preparing for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games. His performance in Lignano demonstrates his continued dedication and skill as he aims for further success.
The 20-year-old Cepas, who trains with both paralympic and able-bodied athletes at the Centro de Alto Rendimiento in Madrid, as reported by Marca, dominated the Class 9 individual event. He won his group stage matches convincingly, defeating Brazil’s Joao Pedro Ribeiro 3-0 (11-3, 11-6, 11-5) and Germany’s Jan Reinig 3-1 (11-3, 11-2, 11-7, 11-6). He continued his winning streak in the knockout stages, overcoming Hong Kong’s Ka Sing Ho 3-0 (11-9, 11-2, 11-5) in the quarterfinals and Ukraine’s Lev Kats 3-0 (11-9, 11-4, 12-10) in the semifinals.
The final saw Cepas defeat Great Britain’s Joshua Stacey 3-1 (11-6, 8-11, 11-6, 11-6) to claim the gold medal. This victory underscores his position as a leading force in para table tennis.
Cepas also excelled in the mixed doubles competition (Class XD17-20), partnering with Olaia Martínez. The duo, supported by Verallia as part of the Promises Paralympic Table Tennis Team, according to Verallia, navigated through the tournament undefeated until the final. They secured victories against Croatia’s Jozic and Valentekovic (3-1) and Brazil’s Dos Santos and Rauen (3-0) in the group stage. Their momentum continued with quarterfinal and semifinal wins over Japan/Russia (3-1) and Croatia (3-0), respectively.
However, their run ended in a narrow 2-3 defeat to Brazil’s De Oliveira and Parinos in the final. Despite the loss, the partnership continues to demonstrate significant potential as they prepare for the inclusion of mixed doubles in the Los Angeles 2028 program.
Doubles Competition Results
In the men’s doubles, Cepas and Juan Bautista Pérez reached the quarterfinals of the MD18 class, while Iker Sastre and Daniel Rodríguez also reached the quarterfinals in the MD4 class. Olaia Martínez and Maria Migueles secured a silver medal in the women’s doubles (WD14-20) competition, winning all their group stage, quarterfinal, and semifinal matches before falling to Brazil’s Danielle Rauen and Jennyfer Parinos 3-2 in the final.
Ander Cepas’s recent successes build upon his bronze medal win at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, as noted by the International Table Tennis Federation, and highlight his consistent performance at the highest level of the sport. He is a key figure in the Spanish Paralympic team and a rising star in the world of para table tennis.
With the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games on the horizon, Cepas is focused on continuing his development and striving for further achievements. His dedication and talent position him as a strong contender for future success, and his performances serve as an inspiration to aspiring athletes.
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