by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Similarly in the Women’s Team events, Russia and Poland both recorded victories in their goal to achieve success in the same categories as in Vejle; the only difference when compared with the Croatians was that they made changes to the selection of two years earlier.

In Class 6-8 in Vejle, Elena Litvinenko had joined forces with Raisa Chebanika and Ulija Shishkina in the Russian outfit; in Lasko it was Victoriya Safonova. A most positive start was made; a two-nil win was recorded again the Sweden’s Emelie Endre and Smilla Sand.

One change to the Russian team, in Class 9-10, for Poland, the change was much greater. In Vejle Karolina Pek had joined forces with Natalia Partyka and Malgorzata Jankowska; in Lasko she partners Katarzyna Marszal. No Natalia Partyka, nevertheless it was the best possible start.

They beat the Romanian combination of Ioanna-Monica Tepelea by two matches to nil, prior to recording the very same margin of victory in opposition to the partnership formed by Russia’s Olga Komleva and Elena Litvinenko, the Class 6-8 winner in Vejle.

Meanwhile, in the one event where the title is not being defended, Class 4-5 won two years ago by the Swedish combination of Anna-Carin Ahlqhuist and Ingela Lundbäck, most notably, the runners up of two years ago made a successful start.

Serbia’s Borislava Peric-Rankovic and Nada Matic, silver medallists at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, beat Slovenia’s Andreja Dolinar and Barbara Meglic by two matches to one in their opening fixture.

Play in the Women’s Team events continues on Monday 2nd October.

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