(by Steve Hopkins)
USA’s Jenson Van Emburgh showcased his skills at a pair of ITTF World Para Circuit tournaments in Spokane, Washington this month. Van Emburgh fell short in the first event, but won the second – turning heartbreak into triumph while solidifying his place as the World No. 1 ranked player in his Class.
The opening competition was the ITTF World Para Future Spokane. Van Emburgh advanced to the Final and came within inches of victory. Facing French veteran Florian Merrien, he battled through a thrilling five-sets, only to fall just short in a narrow 2–3 defeat. Luckily for Van Emburgh, there were two back to back events, so he had the opportunity to turn the loss into motivation rather than a setback.
Van Emburgh did not start the ITTF World Para Elite smoothly either. In group play, he stumbled against Brazil’s Welder Knaf, losing 2–3. With pressure mounting, he defeating Poland’s Maciej Nalepka in straight games, 3–0, to finish second in the group. Without winning, he had a harder path to the Final, but that also allowed him to play an extra match as he found his stride.
In the quarters, Van Emburgh faced Petr Svatos of Czechia and put together strong performance, winning 3–0. With each victory, he established his rhythm and confidence – and that set him up well for the knockout rounds.
Van Emburgh entered the Semifinals on a roll, with renewed focus. Fate paired him once again against Merrien — the very opponent who had denied him gold days earlier. This time, on an even bigger stage, Van Emburgh flipped the script. With sharp attacking play and great composure under pressure, he controlled the momentum, build a lead, and this time finished strong – earning a convincing 3–1 victory. At this point, he has gained his revenge and punched his ticket to the Final.
The championship match brought another familiar rival: Jang Yeonjin of Korea. Jang had eliminated Van Emburgh at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, so there was no chance of underestimating his opponent in this match. Van Emburgh delivered his best performance of the tournament. The scores were tight, but he was cool in the big moments and closed out a straight-sets victory 3-0 to secure the ITTF World Para Elite title.
The victory was especially meaningful, as the Para Elite Series event carries greater ranking points than the Para Future Series event competition. By capturing the Spokane Elite crown, Van Emburgh not only avenged two of his toughest past losses but also ensured he would retain his position as the World’s No. 1 player.
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We caught up with Jenson to ask a few questions after these important events:
Q: What does it mean to you to be able to play a major event like this in the US as opposed to playing abroad?
Jenson: It means a lot to me! To not have to deal with such a drastic time change and to be in my home country. It gives me a sort of a feel of what LA 2028 could be like!
Q: In the Future Series event final against Florian Merrien, you lost a really close 2–3 match. What were your emotions coming out of that match, and how did you use it as motivation for the Elite tournament?
Jenson: It was definitely a heartbreaker, tough to lose such a close final, especially having a lead and just wasn’t able to close it out. I was more angry about it than anything but thought about getting my revenge in the next competition.
Q: During the Elite group stage, you had a setback against Welder Knaf but bounced back in your next match. That meant you had to play an extra match and fight through the Quarters. How important were those early matches in building your confidence for the later rounds?
Jenson: Losing to Knaf was frustrating, but we played three times already this year and none of the matches before were easy to win. . Beating Maciej 3–0 gave me momentum, and then winning in the quarterfinals against Svatos really boosted my confidence. Each match helped me find my rhythm and prepared me for the tougher battles ahead.
Q: You got your revenge against Florian Merrien in the semifinals and then against Jang Yeonjin in the final — two players who have beaten you in the past. What did those victories mean to you?
Jenson: They meant a lot. Beating Merrien after losing to him just days before felt great, and then to also take down Jang, who knocked me out of the Paralympics in Paris, made the title even more special. Those matches showed me how far I’ve come.
Q: The final against Jang was a straight-sets win, but every set was tight. What was going through your mind in those big points, and how did you manage to stay composed?
Jenson: I just told myself to trust my game, stick to the tactic, and stay aggressive. The sets were close, but I stayed calm and focused on each point instead of the score. That mindset really helped me close it out 3–0.
Q: By winning the Elite tournament, you secured enough ranking points to stay World No. 1. How does it feel to not only win this title but also hold onto the top spot in the world?
Jenson: It feels amazing. Staying at No. 1 means all the work I’ve been putting in is paying off. But it also motivates me to keep improving because I know everyone is aiming for that top spot too. Most importantly, every single of these victories to me are just building blocks to the major competitions such as the World Championships and LA 2028.
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