Shackleton’s golden run of form continues with Poland triumph
With the Paris Paralympics fast approaching, Todmorden table tennis star Megan Shackleton is in sensational form and her run of medalwinning performances continued with gold in the ITTF Polish Para Open, in Wladyslawowo, last week.
Playing in the women’s class 4 singles, Shackleton came through a tough battle against An Mi Hyeon from the Republic of Korea, twice levelling the match before taking the deciding set 13-11.
Irem Oluk had won their last four meetings in five sets, but Shackleton gained her revenge with a 3-0 win against the 22-year-old world and European bronze medallist from Turkey.
Despite a 3-2 loss to world number 11 Wassana Sringam, from Thailand, she progressed to the semi-finals as group winner and a 3-0 win against Flora Vautier from France took her through to the final and a rematch with Oluk.
She started well, taking the first set 11-5 and although Oluk levelled at 1-1, Shackleton regained the upper hand and took the next two sets 11-7, 11-5 to secure her third singles title this year after winning in the USA and Brazil.
“I’m really proud of my efforts here,” said a delighted Shackleton.
She added: “I’ve been able to execute exactly how I envision I want my game to be and to beat the world number seven twice in one tournament feels great.
"I’m proud of how hard I’ve worked this season and the changes I’ve made to evolve my game.”
Fliss Pickard and 13-yearold Bly Twomey also won gold for Great Britain in the class 6 and class 7 singles respectively. Jack Hunter-Spivey (men’s class 5), Martin Perry (men’s class 6) and Ross Wilson (men’s class 9) all took bronze.
Shackleton played alongside class 5 world number eight Caroline Tabib from Israel in the women’s class 10 doubles.
They suffered a 3-1 defeat to the class 5 pair of former world champion Kang Oejeong and world number three Jung Young A from the Republic of Korea.
They were 3-0 winners against Hatice Duman from Turkey and Zorica Popadic from Serbia and fought back from 2-0 down against Lee Mi Gyu from Republic of Korea and Flora Vautier from France to level at 2-2 but did not progress after losing the deciding set 11-6.