by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

The crucial contest was that against Zorica Popadic, the confrontation that determined second place and progress to the main draw; by the very narrowest of margins, the verdict went in favour of the Serbian (11-6, 12-10, 2-11, 9-11, 11-9).

“It wasn’t as tight a match as it probably looked, the defeat was concrete. I didn’t play my game; I didn’t play my best. I should have been more aggressive. Now I am really looking forward to the team event.” Andreja Dolinar

Disappointment for Andreja Dolinar, in the same class, there were no such problems for Serbia’s Borislava Peric-Rankovic, the top seed and defending champion. She duly remained unbeaten to top her group.

“It is always harder to defend than trying to win. How it will end will be known tomorrow. Young players are coming through, they want to reach the top and this is a big challenge for me. Of course we make jokes and relax from time to time but the hours of training are serious and committed. I want to keep going and help young athletes to follow the footsteps of Nada Matic and me.” Borislava Peric-Rankovic.

Top places for Borislava Peric-Rankovic and Sandra Mikolaschek when the group phase of proceedings had concluded; it was the very same in the two remaining Women’s wheelchair categories, the respective top two seeds ended in the initial phase remained unbeaten.

In Class 1-2 Italy’s Giada Rossi and Russia’s Nadejda Pushpasheva duly topped their groups, as in Class 3 did Sweden’s Anna-Carin Ahlqhuist and Croatia’s Andela Muzinic.

The main draw will be played to a conclusion on Saturday 30th September.

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