Team Ireland made a strong start at the European Para Table Tennis Championships in Helsingborg, Sweden. Day 1 at the Helsingborg Arena featured three matches, with Judge and Vaughan securing an impressive three wins from three.
Paralympian Colin Judge opened his campaign with a comprehensive victory over Krizander Magnussen of Norway, taking the match in straight sets: 11–4, 11–3, 11–8.
Patrick Vaughan then began his championships against Magnussen. He claimed the first set 11–8 in a controlled display. Set two was tighter, with the score level at 6–6, but Vaughan again pulled clear to take it 11–8. Magnussen struggled to match the intensity in the third, and Vaughan closed out the match with another 11–8 set to secure his first win of the event.
Judge returned to the table later in the day for his second group match against Spain’s Eder Rodriguez. After dropping the opening set 6–11, he recovered strongly to take the second 11–8. He continued his momentum into the third, building a 3–0 lead and holding off Rodriguez’s challenge to win 11–7. In a battling fourth set, Judge kept his composure to edge a tight finish 14–12, completing a hard-earned victory.
Tomorrow, Patrick Vaughan is back in action in the Men’s Singles Class 7 (Group 2), where he will face Christian Scheiber (AUT) at 12:10 local time (11:10 Irish time) on Table 10. Colin Judge progresses to the Last 16 of his class, with his next match scheduled for 16:10 Swedish time.
Day 1: Thursday 20th Results
Colin Judge v Kristjan Keskula (EST)
Result: W 11 – 4, 11 – 3, 11 – 8
Result: W 11 – 4, 11 – 3, 11 – 8
Patrick Vaughan (IRL) v Krizander Magnussen (NOR)
Result: W 11 – 8, 11 – 8, 11 – 8
Result: W 11 – 8, 11 – 8, 11 – 8
Colin Judge (IRL) v Eder Rodriguez (ESP)
Result: W 6 -11, 11 – 8, 11- 7, 14 -12
Result: W 6 -11, 11 – 8, 11- 7, 14 -12
Daily Schedule: Friday 21st
Patrick Vaughan – Men’s Singles Class 7 (Group 2)
Opponent: Christian Scheiber (AUT)
Sweden Time: 12:10
Ireland Time: 11:10
Table: 10
Colin Judge – Men’s Singes Class 3 (Last 16)
Opponent: TBD
Sweden Time: 16:10
Ireland Time: 15:10
Table: TBD
*Progression in the competition will depend on the results of the group stage matches
