The energy inside the Dubai 2025 Asian Para Youth Games arena was electric, and expectations soared as two of Paris 2024 Paralympics stars in table tennis stepped onto the courts.
All eyes were on Chinese Taipei’s Chen Po-Yen, the Class 11 Paralympic silver medalist, and Iraq’s Najlah Al Dayyeni, the Class 6 Paralympic gold medalist, as they set out to prove once again why they stand among the very best in the world.
Both champions advanced confidently to their finals, delivering performances that had the crowd holding its breath – moments of intensity, grit, and brilliance that showcased the heart of Paralympic sport.
Immmense expectations
As the Vichy 2023 Virtus Global Games Champion, current ITTF World No. 1, and the Paris 2024 silver medalist – Chen Po-Yen carried immense expectations on his shoulders. And once again, he lived up to every bit of them.
After topping his round-robin group, Chen entered the semi-finals against Thailand’s Techo Master Narawit. Narawit put up admirable resistance, but Chen’s world-class precision prevailed with a clean 3-0 victory (11–8, 11–3, 11–7).
The final, however, was a different story. Facing Indonesia’s Dwiputra Muhammad Alfigo, Chen found himself immediately under pressure. Dwiputra came out strong, taking the first set 11–7. But champions rise when the moment demands it.
Chen clawed back with a dominating 11–2 win in the second set, then dug deep to outplay his opponent in two fiercely fought sets 11–9, 11–8 to claim the Class 11 gold at the Dubai 2025.
After the match, Chen spoke with honesty and humility: “I had faced my opponent in the final during the preliminary rounds. In the final, he played at a slightly slower pace and alsomanaged to pinpoint my weaknesses during the match. It was a very tough battle.”
He admitted that even he was uncertain:
“Despite my coach’s guidance and strategic input, I honestly wasn’t that confident about winning the gold medal. On a scale of one to ten, I would only rate my certainty as a five.”
His proudest moment?
“Overcoming a 1–0 deficit in the semi-final and successfully making a comeback to secure the victory.”
This win marks yet another addition to a remarkable season for Chen, who earlier claimed singles and men’s doubles titles in the II1 category at the 2025 Virtus World Table Tennis Championship.
He reflected on the achievement with gratitude:
“Winning the gold in the final tournament of the year serves as a perfect ending and a great conclusion to my year.”
Chen now sets his sights on the 2026 Asian Para Games in Nagoya, where he aims for nothing less than the gold.
Al Dayyeni dominates Class 6 with a perfect run
The Class 6 competition featured four talented athletes – Najlah Al Dayyeni (IRQ), Phathumcai Kanokporn (THA), Ashtari Fatemeh (IRI) and Farttoosi Zainab Hasan (IRQ).
From the very start, Najlah controlled the field. Match after match, she displayed confidence, precision, and the composure of a true Paralympic champion. Winning all her round-robin matches and earning 6 points, she finished first in her group and secured the gold medal without a single stumble.
Her dominance reminded everyone of her Paris 2024 triumph – a proof that her success is no accident but the result of hard work, discipline, and an unshakeable competitive spirit.
Surely,Al Dayyeni and Chen Po-Yen didn’t just win, they inspired a new young generation of paddlers.
