by Ian Marshall, Editor
Facing India, Shin Yubin had given the Korea Republic the ideal start by beating Selena Selvakumar in three straight games (12-10, 11-8, 11-5), against Brazil, the no.12 seeds, she did the same but it was a much more testing contest. She needed the full five games to overcome Bruna Takahashi, only emerging successful by the minimum two point margin in the decider (7-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-9).
Nerves settled, Wee Yeji accounted for Livia Lima (11-8, 11-6, 11-9), before Ryu Hanna concluded matters by overcoming 13 year old Giulia Takahashi (11-8, 11-4, 11-7), a member of the Latin American team earlier this year in September at the ITTF World Hopes Cadet Challenge in Tottori.
The Korea Republic joins Japan, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong and China, in the last eight; the top four seeds who gained direct entries to the quarter-finals. Brazil now plays India in the concluding fixture in the group; whatever the outcome both now enter the draw for places no.9 to no.16.
Success contrary to seeding for Korea Republic, in the remaining second series of group phase fixtures in the Girls’ Team event, it was success as status advised.
Selecting Nadezhda Bogdanova, Maharyta Baltushite and Darya Kisel; Belarus, the no.2 seeds, recorded a three-one win in opposition to the no.14 seeds, New Zealand’s Zhou Jiayi, Von Hui Ling and Cheng Zhiying, the player to cause the European outfit problems being Vong Hui Ling. In the second match of the encounter, she beat Maharyta Baltushite (11-9, 13-11, 7-11, 11-6); success for New Zealand but no more, wins from Nadezhda Bogdanova against Zhiu Jiayi (11-6, 11-2, 11-3) and Vong Hui Ling (11-4, 11-2, 11-9) assured there would be no major upset.
Victory by three matches to one for Belarus; for the no.9 seeds, Serbia, represented by Sabina Surjan, Tijana Jokic and Andjela Menger, it was the same margin of victory when facing the no.15 seeds, the Australian combination of Danni-Elle Townsend, Parleen Kaur and Michelle Wu. The one win for the host nation was recorded in the third match of the engagement, when Michelle Wu narrowly overcame Andjela Menger (12-10, 8-11, 11-9, 2-11, 11-9); however just as Nadezhda Bogdanova had proved the backbone of success for Belarus, so did Sabina Surjan for Serbia. She beat both Danni-Elle Townsend (11-4, 11-3, 11-7) and Parleen Kaur (11-2, 11-5, 11-5).
Notable opening wins for Belarus and for Serbia; it was the same from the no.10 seeds, the French combination of Leili Mostafavi, Lucie Gauthier and Prithika Pavade. They overcame the no.16 seeds, the Canadian combination of Ivy Liao, Chen Yu-Hsuan and Kelly Zhao Fei by three matches to nil.
Belarus now faces Russia to determine first position in the group and a place in the quarter-finals; similarly Serbia confronts Romania, France opposes the United States. Canada, Australia and New Zealand have now completed their initial phase fixtures and will compete for places no.9 to no.16.
The concluding group stage fixtures will be conducted on Monday 3rd December.
