by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
A place in the final at stake, Paul Karabardak and David Wetherill suffered a two-one defeat at the hands of Croatia’s Pavao Jozic and Vjekoslav Gregorovic.
The British pair secured the doubles (11-9, 11-7, 11-8) but defeat for David Wetherill by the narrowest of margins against Pavao Jozic (11-9, 11-3, 12-14, 5-11, 12-10) plus a reverse for Paul Karabardak in opposition to Vjekoslav Gregorovic (11-6, 11-8, 3-11, 13-11) ended British hopes.
In the final the Croatians meet Spain’s Alvaro Valera and Alberto Seone; the two matches to nil winners over Denmark’s Peter Rosenmeier and Michael Jensen in the corresponding semi-final.
Disappointment for Paul Karabardak and David Wetherill, it was the same for Paul Davies and Tom Matthews.
Five teams competing on an all-play-all basis, Paul Davies and Tom Matthews entered the concluding fixture unbeaten; they suffered a two matches to nil defeat against the Korean outfit comprising Nam Kiwon and Cho Jaekwon.
However, the previous day, Nam Kiwon and Cho Jaekwon had lost by the same margin to the Italian duo of Andrea Borgato and Federico Falco; whilst the British pair has recorded a two-one success in opposition to the Italians.
Thus Andrea Borgato and Federico Falco, who had finished their schedule earlier in the day, sat and watched as the result felt perfectly into their hands. It was top place for Italy on match ratio (3:2) followed by Korea (2:2) and Great Britain (2:3).
Gold for Italy and as the medals were presented for those events which had concluded there was a further presentation for Italy.
Secured one day earlier Michela Brunelli and Giada Rossi received the plaudits for Women’s Team Class 3, whilst also in the female events the anthems of Serbia and Russia rang loud and clear.
Borislava Peric-Rankovic, Nada Matic and Kristina Arancic flew the flag for Serbia as they received the Women’s Class 4-5 gold medals; whilst in Women’s Class 6-7 it was the top prize for Russia as it was in Women’s Class 11.
Raisa Chebanika, Uliya Shishkina and Victoriya Safonova stood tall on the top step of the podium in the former, as in the latter did their colleagues Elena Prokofeva, Anzhelika Kosacheva and Maria Galkina.
Meanwhile, in addition to Andrea Borgato and Federico Falco; in Men’s Team Class 11, the medals were presented. Gold finished around the necks of the French pairing formed by Lucas Creange and Anthony Zhao.
Play concludes in Bratislava on Saturday 20th May.
2017 World Para Team Championships: Draw and Latest Results
