by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager
Success by three matches to nil was the result in every contest from the imposing Chinese; Sweden’s Leah Tveit Muskantor and Rebecca Muskanter, the no.8 seeds and highest rated outfit in the group had to settle for second place and thus elimination. Only teams finishing in first place in each of the eight groups advanced to the main draw.
It was to prove the same scenario for the Czech Republic ‘A’ Team partnership of Klara Hrabicova and Linda Zaderova, the no.4 seeds, as it was to be for Croatia’s Hana Arapovic and Hanna loncarevic, the no.5 seeds. Likewise, the outcome was no different for Moldova’s Vitalina Brinza and Natalia Brinza, the no.7 seeds. All experienced defeats at the hands of teams who ended the day unbeaten and thus in top spot in the group.
Klara Hrabicova and Linda Zaderova experienced a three-one defeat when facing Ulyana Alkouskaya and Yuliya Zaleskaya of Belarus; by the same margin Hana Arapovic and Hanna loncarevic suffered against Ukraine’s Iolanta Yevtodii and Maria Kurishchenko. Meanwhile, for Vitalina Brinza and Natalia Brinza it was a three-two reverse at the hands of Hungary’s Dorottya Tolgyes and Irisz Kaskai.
Four surprise first places; in the remaining groups it was as status advised.
Romania, the top seeds, who selected from Luciana Mitrofan, Elena Zaharia, Irina Rus and Iona Singeorzan finished in first place in their group, as did the next in line, the Serbian combination of Reka Bezeg and Radmila Tominjak.
Likewise, it was first place for the third seeds, the Indian formation of Tisha Gogoi, Diya Parag Chitale and Munmun Kundu, a feat also achieved by French outfit comprising Chloe Chomis, Lucie Farcy, Charlotte Lutz and Lucie Mobarek.
Play in the Cadet Girls’ Team event concludes on Saturday 17th February.
