by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager
Star of the show for Poland was Katarzyna Wegrzyn. In the open fixture against France, she beat both Isa Cok (11-7, 6-11, 13-11, 11-8) and Prithika Pavade (11-9, 11-8, 11-7) to prove the backbone of a three-two win.
The one further success for Poland was secured by Anna Wegrzyn; she overcame Prithika Pavade (11-8, 9-11, 11-7, 11-4). The wins for France were secured in the third match of the contest when Camille Lutz beat Aleksandra Michalak (11-4, 5-11, 11-5, 11-6) and in the immediately ensuing contest when Isa Cok defeated Anna Wegrzyn (11-8, 11-7, 11-3).
A three-two win against France clearly gave the Polish trio an injection of confidence; facing Serbia a three-nil win was recorded. Ana Wegrzyn beat Tijana Jokic (11-9, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9), Katarzyna Wegrzyn accounted for Sabina Surjan (11-5, 24-22, 11-8), before Agata Zakrzewska ended matters by defeating Andjela Menger (11-9, 11-3, 14-12).
First place against the odds, less of a surprise were the pole positions gained by Japan and China; both outfits ending the day without conceding a single individual match.
Belarus with Nadezhda Bogdanova, Marharyta Baltushite and Darya Kisel in action, the no.4 seeds, had to settle for second place behind the Japanese combination of Yukari Sugasawa, Yumeno Soma, Honami Nakamori and Sakura Yokoi. Likewise, the combination of Denmark’s Sophie Walloe, Singapore’s Goi Rui Xuan and Amy Wang of the United States had to give second best to China’s Huang Fanzhen, Shi Xunyao and Sun Yizhen.
Three surprise first places, in the remaining four groups the outcome was as anticipated.
India, the no.2 seeds, with Archana Girish Kamath, Selena Selvakumar and Prapti Sen on duty finished in first place in their group, as did Romania’s Andreea Dragoman, Andreea Hudusan and Tania Plaian.
Likewise, it was first position for the Russian combination of Anastasia Kolish, Natalia Malanina, Mariia Tailakova and Olga Vishniakova, the no.5 seeds, as it was for the Croatian formation of Klara Bardac, Andrea Pavlovic, Leona Santek and Marta Vukelic, the no.6 seeds.
Proceedings in the Junior Girls’ Team competition conclude on Saturday 17th February.
