by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

No current world ranking Wang Yidi, runner up in the Girls’ Singles event at the 2015 World Junior Championships, accounted for Germany’s Nina Mittelham, listed at no.108.

Success in her opening match; in her next encounter, she ended the hopes of India’s Manika Batra, named at no.119 (17-15, 12-10, 11-5, 2-11, 11-4) and a quarter-finalist in the recent ATTU-ITTF Asian Cup in Ahmedabad.

Similarly, owing to an absence from the international scene, Liu Gaoyang, gold medallist at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games, has no current global status. She accounted for Austria’s Amelie Solja (6-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-9, 11-5) and the Czech Republic’s Dana Cechova (11-7, 11-6, 11-4, 11-6).

Presently, on the Women’s World Rankings, Amelie Solja is named at no.126, Dana Cechova at no.109.

Impressive performances, it was the same from Gu Ruochen; on the September 2017 world list, she is named at no.62. However, the seeding in Linz is based on the order of merit as in August 2017; on that listing Gu Ruochen had no ranking.

Impressively, the 23 year old accounted for Egypt’s Dina Meshref, ranked no.103, prior to overcoming Slovakia’s Eva Odorova, listed at no.107 (11-4, 11-9, 8-11, 11-6, 11-5).

First places and progress to the next phase secured; in all the remaining groups, one match awaits for the leading names.

Notably, for Portugal’s Yu Fu and Japan’s Saki Shibata, alongside the Chinese duo of Chen Xingtong and Gu Yuting, the top four names, it was one match played, one success. All four are on track for the main event.

The qualification tournament concludes on Wednesday 20th September.