- Geplaatst door: Carlo Agnello
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De prestaties van Laurens Devos wekken ook de aandacht van de ITTF... (Bron: www.ittf.com)
Name all the players on duty in the Vendéspace arena and I suspect you can name all the umpires and referees as well but in the hall but there is only one who is definitely destined for Rio 2016.
At the European Para Championships staged in the Danish city of Vejle, Belgium’s 15 year old Laurens Devos won the Men’s Singles Class 9 title; it means he qualifies for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
It was somewhat of a surprise win; on the morning of Thursday 3rd December in the group qualification stage of the Boys’ Singles event at the 2015 World Junior Championships in the French west coast town of La Roche-sur-Yon, he caused another upset.
He beat Jack Wang of the United States in six games (11-6, 12-10, 4-11, 14-12, 14-16, 11-7).
World Ranking
At no.57 on the current Under 18 Boys’ World Ranking, Jack Wang, who celebrates his 15th birthday in two days’ time, is listed at no.57; conversely Laurens Devos who passed the same age milestone earlier this year in August is at no.245 and is the lowest rated player in the group.
The other member of the trio is Egypt’s Youssef Abdel-Aziz, yet to raise a racket in anger, he is named at no.86 and in common with Jack Wang and Laurens Devos was born in 2000.
Good Focus
“I think today my mind was very clear, my focus was good”, said Laurens Devos who is the younger brother of current Belgian international, Robin Devos.
It was an impressive performance but there was one moment of anxiety, not necessarily for Laurens Devos but for Marc Closset, the coach sitting courtside; he is “Monsieur Motivateur”, on his feet in delight when one of his players succeeds.
Fifth Game
“I was leading three games to one and 5-0 in the fifth; then he came back to lead 7-5, I went ahead 10-8 but then lost the game”, continued Laurens Devos. “I was thinking too much about winning the match and I made some really easy mistakes.”
The game lost; words from Marc Closset and in the sixth game it was to be victory for the teenager who had remained calm throughout the tension of the fifth game. Laurens Devos is not the type of player who shows expansive emotions.
Serve and Receive
“Overall today, I think I won today because I served well, I was able to follow my service with a strong attack and I received service well”, added Laurens Devos. “Jack was a very strong opponent; he is equally strong from both forehand and backhand.”
One more match remains in the group for Laurens Devos; of course he is focused on that contest but quite understandably he is looking forward Rio de Janeiro.
