by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Squad rotation was likewise the order of the dau, Singapore chose from Feng Tianwei, Eunice Lim, Tan En Hui, Zhang Wanling and Wong Xin Ru; for India Mouma Das, Madhurika Patkar, Pooja Sahasrabudhe, Manika Batra and Sutirtha Mukherjee all contributed to a trouble free day.

However, for Vietnam, the fourth highest rated outfit on Women’s Team qualification duty, there was defeat. They experienced a three-two reverse in opposition to Malaysia who duly completed the day unbeaten.

Nguyen Thi Nga beat both Ho Ying (17-15, 12-10, 5-11, 9-11, 11-9) and Ng Sock Khim (12-10, 7-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-7) but she was to prove the only winner for Vietnam. Giang Phan Hoang Tuong was experienced defeat at the hands of Ng Sock Khim in the opening match of the fixture (11-7, 12-10, 11-2), prior to experiencing a similar fate in opposition to Ho Ying on the vital fifth and concluding contest (11-4, 12-10, 13-11). The one remaining Malaysian win was secured by Lee Rou You; in the third match of the fixture she accounted for Mai Hoang My Trang (11-8, 11-7, 11-9).

“I have lost to Nguyen Thi Nga before in very close matches; today I lost 11-9 in the fifth and the other two games I lost just as close, I had leads and lost. I was so angry with myself; before the last match I was nervous”, Ho Ying.

Defeat for Vietnam but not for Iran and Kazakhstan; both outfits ended the day unbeaten. Throughout, Iran fielded to trio of Neda Shahsavari, Mahdhid Ashtari and Maryam Samet; for Kazakhstan it was the same policy. Yuliya Gats, Zauresh Akasheva and Nataliya Sladkova was the selection.

At the quarter-final stage of the qualification event, Kazakhstan plays India; the winner meeting Chinese Taipei in the semi-finals. Iran confronts Malaysia, Singapore awaits.