By Gary Anderson

July 30 - Briton David Wetherill lost out to Rungroj Thainiyom of Thailand in the final of the mens class six categoryBritain's David Wetherill had to settle for the silver medal at the Korea Para-Table Tennis Open Championships in Incheon following a titanic battle with home favourite Park Hongkyu in the final of the men's singles class six category.

Wetherill, who won the Bayreuth Open in Germany earlier this year, had overcome Thailand's London 2012 champion Rungroj Thainiyom in the semi-final 11-9, 11-6, 11-5.

In an enthralling final, the 23-year-old, who despite not winning a medal at last year's Paralympics Games became one of the stars of the tournament following his "shot of the century"', went the full five sets with Thainiyom but the Thai player eventually came on top 4-11, 11-8, 11-8, 4-11, 11-8.

Another gold medallist form London, Pan Fengfeng of China overcame compatriot and Paralympic silver medallist Zhan Yan 11-9, 11-3, 11-3 in the final of the men's singles class three, while Cao Ningning also of China and also a gold medal winner at London 2012 defeated South Korea's Kim Kyungyoung in the singles class five 11-8, 12-10, 11-9.

In the men's singles class 1-2, the home crowd sensed a victory for Soo Yong after he knocked out London 2012 champion Jian Riapos of Slovakia 4-12, 9-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-1 in a hard-fought semi-final.

London 2012 gold medallist Cao Ningning of China won the mens singles class five in IncheonLondon 2012 gold medallist Cao Ningning of China won the mens singles class five in Incheon

However, Riapos' compatriot Ratislav Revucky had not read the script and in a final that went right down to the wire, home favourite Yong lost out by the narrowest of margins in the deciding game, and the overall score-line was 5-11, 8-11, 11-1, 11-8, 11-9.

It was another all Chinese affair in the final of the men's class 8-9 with Zhao Yiqing overcoming Ma Lin 2-11, 11-6, 11-7, 10-12, 13-11 while Indonesia's David Jacobs secured gold in the class 10 category with victory over Ge Yang of China.

In the women's events, Chinese dominance continued as both Zhang Biang and Lei Lina claimed top honours in the class five and class nine categories respectively.

In the class 1-2 competition, Wachirapond Maenpuak of Thailand beat China's Liu Jing in straight sets 11-8, 11-2, 11-7 while Korea's Jung Ji Young and Harumi Kimura of Japan played out another thriller which saw the Korean eventually come on top 11-7, 7-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-3.

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