by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager

In the one and only contest where she was required to raise her racket in anger, Galia Dvorak beat Nolwen Fort of France (11-8, 11-2, 11-8, 11-4); rather more busy, Sara Ramirez, after accounting for compatriot Yolanda Enriquez (11-7, 11-8, 13-11, 11-3) overcame Finland’s Anna Krichenko, the highest ranked player in the group. Impressively, Sara Ramirez prevailed in four straight games (11-7, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7).

Defeat for Anna Krichenko but, as the day closed, she was not the only player who started proceedings as the highest rated player in her group and experienced defeat. The Czech Republic’s Renata Strbikova was beaten by Korea’s Yoon Hyobin (11-8, 13-11, 11-8, 11-9); Norway’s Ilka Doval experienced defeat at the hands of Chinese Taipei’s Su Pei-Ling (11-5, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-5).

Notably earlier in the day Karin Adamikova, like Renata Stbikova from the Czech Republic and Argentina’s Agustina Iwasa had experienced defeats at Korean hands. Both had commenced matters as the highest rated in their particular groups. Kim Youjin had beaten Karin Adamikova (6-11, 11-4, 11-4, 11-3, 11-8); Sim Hyunju had overcome Argentina’s Agustina Iwasa (11-6, 7-11, 11-2, 11-3, 11-6).

Problems for leading names and there were problems for the most prominent name on Women’s Singles qualification tournament. In her one and only contest of the day, Italy Giorgia Piccolin was extended the full seven games distance by Katsiaryna Baravok of Belarus, only emerging successful by the minimal two point margin in the deciding game (11-9, 7-11, 11-6, 8-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9).

Problems for Giorgia Piccolin, not for the other prominent names; for Daria Trigolos, like Katsiaryna Baravok from Belarus, it was one match played, one win. It was the same for Hong Kong’s Mak Tze Wing as it was for Poland’s Katarzyna Grzybowska-Franc.

Only the players finishing in first places in each of the 16 groups advance to the main draw; the qualification tournament concludes on Thursday 29th March.