International Events | 4 Sep 2024
Tommy URHAUG My youngest daughter is my lucky charm
At the Paris 2024 Paralympics, Norway’s Tommy URHAUG stepped back onto the Paralympic podium for the first time in 12 years, claiming the gold medal in the Class 5 Men’s Singles event and the first gold medal in the singles event at Paris 2024. URHAUG, a seasoned Paralympian with a career spanning over two decades, defeated Chinese Taipei’s CHENG Ming Chih in a thrilling final.
URHAUG also clinched the gold medal at the London 2012 Games in what was then his only finals appearance. Prior to that, he earned a bronze medal in the singles event at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics, solidifying his reputation as one of the sport’s top competitors. Now, at his seventh Paralympic Games, URHAUG has once again proven his expertise by reaching the pinnacle of his sport.
“It’s an amazing feeling. I didn’t quite believe that I could do it again. But I know I’m a good player and I’ve beaten all these players before. So there was a small, small chance, but I didn’t actually believe it. It feels incredible to now have this gold medal around my neck.It’s really special. My youngest daughter was just one-and-a-half when I won in London. She missed Rio (2016) and Tokyo (2020), and now she’s back here and I won. She is my lucky charm, it’s something with her.”
In the semifinals, URHAUG beat Turkey’s Ali OZTURK, the bronze medallist from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, in straight sets, 3-0, to secure his place in the gold medal match.
The final against CHENG Ming Chih was a battle of wills. Cheng pushed URHAUG to his limits 3-2 (5-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9).
Day 6 featured captivating action across multiple classes. In the Men's Singles Class 9, Swedish debutant Daniel GUSTAFSSON delivered a standout performance, defeating China's ZHAO Yiqing. In the Women's Singles Class 8, Norway's Aida Dahlen HUSIC faced a tough battle against debutant Yuri TOMONO, rallying from 2-1 down to secure her place in the semifinals and guaranteeing herself at least a bronze medal, adding to her Women's Doubles bronze from earlier in the Games.
Meanwhile, the Women's Singles Class 10 saw two intense semifinals, setting the stage for an eagerly anticipated final tomorrow. Poland's Natalia PARTYKA narrowly edged out Chinese Taipei's TIAN Shiau Wen in a 3-2 contest, while Australia's YANG Qian, the reigning Tokyo 2020 champion, overcame Brazil's Bruna ALEXANDRE in another nail-biting 3-2 match. The day also saw exciting matches in the Men's Singles Classes 3 and 7, and Women's Singles Classes 6 and 9, each contributing to the electric atmosphere in the arena.
