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Van Emburgh Headlines Strong U.S. Start at ITTF World Para Challenger Spokane

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by Joshua Dyke | USA Table Tennis

Jenson Van Emburgh in the group stages of men's singles Class 3 at ITTF Para World Challenger Spokane 2026. The Podium. Spokane,Wash. Aug. 6, 2026. (Photo by USATT/Todd Pickett)

Jenson Van Emburgh in the group stages of men's singles Class 3 at ITTF Para World Challenger Spokane 2026. The Podium. Spokane,Wash. Aug. 6, 2026. (Photo by USATT/Todd Pickett)

SPOKANE, Wash. — International para table tennis has returned to Spokane as the city hosts back-to-back ITTF World Para Circuit events at The Podium Powered by STCU.

Competition began with the ITTF World Para Challenger Spokane 2026 running through Aug. 9, and it’s followed by the ITTF World Para Elite Spokane 2026 from Aug. 11–13.

The Challenger marks the first of the two premier U.S. para events, giving athletes the opportunity to earn up to 600 ITTF world ranking points in their respective classifications while competing on home soil.

"I'm feeling confident and happy to be competing," Jenson Van Emburgh said. "I'm more comfortable to be at home. It's nice to be more comfortable than the others."

Van Emburgh headlines a U.S. squad of 23 athletes competing against a field of 256 players from around the world. Ranked No. 3 in the world, he enters as the top seed in men's singles Class 3.

The American advanced through the group stage with victories over Chin-Wei Yeh of Chinese Taipei and France's François Geuljans. As the top seed, Van Emburgh received a bye into the semifinals.


Sam Altshuler during the Class 6 men's singles group stage at the ITTF Para World Challenger Spokane 2026. The Podium. Spokane,Wash. Aug. 6, 2026. (Photo by ITTF/Rich London))
Sam Altshuler during the Class 6 men's singles group stage at the ITTF Para World Challenger Spokane 2026. The Podium. Spokane,Wash. Aug. 6, 2026. (Photo by ITTF/Rich London))

In men's singles Class 6, Sam Altshuler and Tristan Myrick each advanced to the semifinals after strong performances in the group stage. The two U.S. High Performance Center trainees will now face each other for a place in the semifinals, with Altshuler entering as the highest-ranked American in Class 6 at World No. 8.

Cole Rothenberger and Marco Makkar both reached the quarterfinals in men's singles Class 8.

An all-American semifinal is also set in men's singles Class 9, where Paralympic medalist Tahl Leibovitz will take on Logan Watson for a spot in the championship match.

In men's singles Class 10, Randell Medcalf advanced to the quarterfinals, where he will face Brazil's Claudio Massad.

On the women's side, Mingyu Zhu leads the U.S. in women's singles. She opens the Class 8 semifinals against Brazil's Allana Maschio, with the winner advancing to face either Jennyfer Parinos or Danielle Rauen of Brazil in the final.