A hope for medals at the upcoming european championships and in the longer term at the paralympic games in Tokyo next year – has been turned into a nightmare for Sophie Walløe.
Prior to the european championships in Helsingborg is the Danish parabordtennisspiller namely classified completely out of the international parabordtennis.
It is she, because the international bordtennisforbund, ITTF, has introduced a new scoring system – and here is Sophie Walløes hip dysplasia is no longer a big enough disability to be classified in class 10, which is for players with at least functional impairment.
A big shock for Sophie Walløe itself.
– I am very shocked and disappointed, and even though you know the risk, when, as a grade 10 player to be tested, so it was unexpected and a tough judgment to get here the day before the european championship, I have trained towards.
– I think the timing is unfair, not only towards myself but also towards all those who stand behind me and bet on me, says Sophie Walløe in a press release.
Walløe has been tested, because she now as a 19-year-old is færdigudvokset and need to be reviewed. At the same time, there is been developed a new test where she did not score high enough. She was allowed to get made a new test on Sunday, when she only lacked five points, but the test was carried out according to other principles.
Why has Parasport Denmark has chosen to appeal the decision.
– It can be sensible to look at the procedures for the classification, but it is in my eyes absolutely crazy to change the rules so a short time before the Paralympic Games.
– It is simply not fair to any eliteatleter that could be tested out on the way to a major international championship under a year before the Paralympic Games. It is completely illegitimate in my opinion, says Happiness Guldbrandt, which is responsible for the classification in Parasport Denmark.
Sophie Walløe has previously won the WORLD championships and the european championship-silver – and -bronze. At the paralympic games in Rio in 2016, she lost bronzekampen.
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