by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Tiago Li beat both Filip Borovnjak (11-8, 11-9, 11-9) and Ivor Ban (7-11, 15-13, 11-4, 11-4), whilst teaming with Gonçalo Gomes to secure the doubles (11-7, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9); the no.5 seeds recorded a three-one win in opposition to the no.4 seeded Croatians.

Likewise, Rachel Sung accounted for Ivet Ilieva (11-8, 12-10, 11-2) and Kalina Hrstova (8-11, 11-2, 11-7, 11-8), whilst Joanna Sung, in the opening match of the fixture also accounted Kalina Hrstova (11-8, 9-11, 11-3, 6-11, 11-9) as the no.9 seeds ended the hopes of the no.6 seeded Bulgarians.

Three matches to one the favoured score-line; it was the same for Jamila Laurenti and Evelyn Vivarelli, the no.5 seeds, in opposition to Moldova’s Natalia Brinza and Vitalina Brinza, the no.4 seeds. Jamila Laurenti overcame both Vitalina Brinza (11-7, 11-5, 11-8) and Natalia Brinza (11-7, 12-10, 4-11, 15-13), whilst teaming with Evelyn Vivarelli to secure the doubles (11-6, 11-6, 11-6).

Upsets and there was almost one more as Belgium, the no.4 seeds in the Cadet Boys’ Team event, staved off a brave recovery by Italy ‘B’.

Adrien Rassenfosse beat Marco Cappuccio (11-8, 5-11, 12-10, 11-8) whilst Nicolas Degros defeated Andrea Puppo (5-11, 4-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-7), before the Italians made a recovery. They secured the doubles 11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 11-8); then levelled matters with Andrea Puppo narrowly beating Adrien Rassenfosse (6-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-7, 12-10).

However, the fightback was halted by Nicolas Degros; in the concluding match of the fixture, he overcame Marco Cappuccio in straight games (11-8, 11-8, 11-4).

At the semi-final stage of the Cadet Boys’ Team event Belgium meets France, the no.15 seeds; Portugal confronts Italy ‘A’, the no.2 seeds. France selects from Fabio Rakotoarimanana, Hugo Deschamps and Guillaume Alcayde; for Italy ‘A’, Matteo Gualdi and John Oyebode will be the players on duty.

France and Italy ‘A’ received a direct entry to the penultimate round.

Meanwhile, at the semi-final stage of the Cadet Girls’ Team competition, Romania, the top seeds, who advanced directly to the last four and select from Luciana Mitrofan, Iona Singeorzan, Denisa Uruti and Elena Zaharia, meet Italy ‘A’; in the opposite half of the draw, the United States meet France, the no.2 seeds.

Represented by Cloe Chomis, Lou Frete and Lucie Mobarek; at the quarter-final stage the French trio overcame the Serbian duo of Reka Bezeg and Radmila Tominjak, the no.7 seeds, by three matches to one.