by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager

Bojan Tokic beat Denmark’s Jonathan Groth (11-1, 6-11, 11-8, 11-9, 12-10); Darko Jorgic accounted for Romania’s Ovidiu Ionescu (11-8, 7-11, 11-8, 11-3, 9-11, 11-5).

Rather differently, for Austria it was differing fortunes. Liam Pitchford overcame Stefan Fegerl (11-9, 11-7, 11-6, 3-11, 11-4), Robert Gardos defeated Japan’s Maharu Yoshimura (11-8, 4-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7). Presently on the Men’s World Rankings, Liam Pitchford is listed at no.58, Stefan Fegerl at no.48; Robert Gardos stands at no.49, Maharu Yoshimura at no.25.

Meanwhile, most impressively Chinese Taipei’s, 16 year old Lin Yun-Ju ended the hopes of Portugal’s Tiago Apolonia (11-5, 11-7, 11-5, 11-7); Liang Jingkun, like Zhang Jike from China, accounted for Sweden’s Jon Persson (11-8, 11-6, 11-9, 10-12).

Fine performances, it was the same from Yuya Oshima who ousted Hong Kong’s Ho Kwan Kit (14-16, 11-8, 11-7, 11-1, 6-11, 11-4).

Outcomes against the odds, the end result being that of the top eight names who started the Men’s Singles qualification tournament, only two survived; the players in question being Sweden’s Kristian Karlsson and Germany’s Patrick Franziska.

In the final qualifying round Kristian Karlsson beat Frenchman, Alexandre Robinot (9-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-9, 8-11, 11-5); Patrick Franziska ended the hopes of Spain’s Alvaro Robles (9-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-7, 11-3).

Play in the main event commences on Thursday 31st May.