(by Steve Hopkins)
The two signature table tennis events in the US (the Open and the Nationals) are unique to our sport. Our sport is among the most inclusive of all sports reaching players of all ages and abilities, our sport has evolved from a simple game into demanding high speed / high endurance test, the technology of our sport can create torque and bend and add speed but it can also soften and straighten and simplify… so our sport can reach a diverse range of players and our governing organization balances their representation of international and national athletes, as well as students, schools, clubs, and leagues. Our biggest tournaments have evolved into massive events that invite all of these aspects of our American sport into one room to compete (and cheer and communicate and support).
The 2023 US Open Table Tennis Championships included over a thousand players taking part in 118 events with the truly open title events at the top (Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles), age events from from U11 up to 85 and Over, rating events (both Adult and Junior versions from U1000 up to U2000 as well as U2600, U2400, and U2200), seven Para events, fifteen Classic events (sandpaper and hardbat), and a Parkinson Open. The highest singled honors this year went to Jinbao Ma and Amy Wang who won the Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles titles.
Amy Wang also won U21 Women’s Singles topping Rachel Sung 3-1 in the Final. Nandan Naresh won Men’s U21 Singles over his brother Sid (3-1). Aditya Sareen swept three titles: U19 Boys, U17 Boys, and U15 Boys (over Ved Sheth, Patryk Zyworonek, and Charles Shen, respectively). Girls U19 went to Youruo Wu who defeated Kheith Cruz in the Final. Kheith won the U17 Girls event, but left with a box full of other medals: 3rd in U21 Women’s Singles, second in U19 Girls, third in Women’s Doubles, second in U19 Girls Doubles, second in U17 Girls Doubles, third in U17 Mixed Doubles. Irene Yeoh left with three Golds (U13 Girls, U15 Girls Doubles, U13 Girls Doubles), and second in U15 Girls and third in U15 Mixed.
Bowmar-sponsored Butterfly Players excelled throughout the week. Aditya Sareen and Irene Yeoh won three events each. Kef Noorani won U13 Boys Singles and U13 Mixed Doubles. Jaden Jia won Singles and Doubles in U11 Boys. Daniel Tran won U19 Boys Doubles and U17 Mixed Doubles. And Nandan Naresh won U21 Men, Rachel Sung won Women’s Doubles, Darryl Tsao won U19 Boys Doubles, Charles Shen won U17 Boys Doubles, Patryk Zyworonek won U15 Boys Doubles, and Stuti Kashyap won U15 Girls Doubles.
Lily Yip continued her run as one of the winningest American players ever by logging another 7 titles (Women 50+, Women 60+, Women 40+ Doubles, Women 50+ Doubles, Women 60+ Doubles, 50+ Mixed, 60+ Mixed) and then adding a second in Women’s 40+ Singles, and a third in 40+ Mixed Doubles. Patty Martinez-Wasserman logged seven medals (4 firsts, 2 seconds, 1 third) including wins in Women’s 40+ Doubles, Women’s 50+ Doubles, Women’s 60+ Doubles, Women’s 70+ Doubles, second place finishes in 60+ Mixed and 65+ Women’s Doubles, and a third in 65+ Mixed Doubles. Abigail Yu also logged seven medals (4 firsts in doubles events from U11 to U15, two seconds in doubles events, and a third in U11 Singles. Some other well-known names with solid results included Dora Kurimay with three medals (40+ Women, 40+ Women’s Doubles, 40+ Mixed),
Summer Xia swept 5 rating events (Adult 1200-1600), and Kyle Lam won four rating events and finished third in another (All between U1000 and U1600). Tahl Leibovits won the Para Combined event, Classes 8-10, and Standing Doubles (18). Hardbat Singles went to Bin Hai Chu and Hardbat Women’s went to Ayano Takeda. The top Sandpaper title (Open) went to Val Stephen Jaca. And Parkinsons 1-4 went to Trent Maclean and Parkinsons 5-8 went to Cherry Tuck.
For full results, visit the Omnipong results site.
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