by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager
Additional to the win in Poland, the Swedes had been the runners up last year in Qatar and in 2012 in the Czech Republic; the year in which they reached the final of the Men’s Doubles event at the European Championships in Herning, Denmark.
On that occasion they were beaten by Austria’s Robert Gardos and Daniel Habesohn, the pair who the following year emerged the runners up in Schwechat as well as in 2015 in Ekaterinburg.
Similar to the Swedes tried and trusted, likewise in Shenzhen, they departed proceedings in the preliminary round, they were beaten by the French combination of Alexandre Cassin and Emmanuel Lebesson (13-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-5).
Defeat for the runners up in Ekaterinburg, for the winners, it was preliminary round success for the combination formed by Austria’s Stefan Fegerl and Portugal’s João Monteiro; they beat a most worthy partnership in the guise of Brazil’s Hugo Calderano and Frenchman, Simon Gauzy (11-9, 8-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-8).
Impressive from Stefan Fegerl and João Monteiro, it was the same from another international partnership; Romania’s Ovidiu Ionescu and Spain’s Alvaro Robles combined to beat Belgium’s Martin Allegro and Florent Lambiet (12-10, 11-9, 11-5).
Differing fortunes for former European finalists; for the 2013 World champions, it was success. Chinese Taipei’s Chen Chien-An and Chuang Chih-Yuan beat Sweden’s Anton Källberg and Elias Ranefur (11-9, 11-6, 10-12, 11-7).
Meanwhile, in the Women’s Doubles qualification tournament, just two matches were necessary and both produced results as expected.
Singapore’s Zeng Jian and Zhou Yihan beat Indonesia’s Kharisma Nur Hawwa and Atikah Rahayu (11-3, 11-8, 11-7); the combination of Germany’s Han Ying and Li Qian accounted for Austria’s Karoline Mischek and Amelie Solja (11-1, 14-12, 4-11, 12-10).
Play in the main draw commences on Thursday 31st May
