Minster’s Ross Wilson awaiting latest world rankings in race to Paris Paralympics after defeat to China’s Liu Chaodong in Semi-Finals of Polish Open

Ross Wilson’s Polish Open hopes ended at the Semi-Final stage in the last tournament of the Paralympics qualification series.

Minster’s Wilson, playing in the men’s class nine category, was beaten by China’s Liu Chaodong and must wait until the latest world rankings are announced in April to see if he has made the cut for Paris this summer.

If he misses out then, there is one more route to the Games via the Paralympic World Qualification Tournament in Thailand from May 23-25.

In only his second tournament since being reclassified from class eight, Wilson, who won the Mark Bates Ltd England Senior National Championships in Nottingham last week, started with a 3-1 win against David Pulpan from Czechia and was impressive in beating world No.10 Koyo Iwabuchi, the Asian Para Games silver medallist and former World medallist from Japan 3-0.

A 3-1 win against Talgat Erekeyev from Kazakhstan secured top place in his group and a bye into the last four where he lost 3-1 to Asian Para Games bronze medallist Chaodong.

“Overall, the singles were OK,” said Wilson. “I had a good time in my group, and I was proud of myself and the way I played.

“I’ve had a big period in the last few months with university and training and I’ve worked really hard and given it everything.

“It wasn’t my day in the Semi-Final - I lost to a Chinese player who has played well here - but I tried my hardest and hopefully I can improve moving forward.”