by Ian Marshall, Editor

Amin Ahmadian gave his team the ideal start by beating Maksim Grebnev in five games (11-7, 3-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-6), before rather more comfortably Amirreza Abbasi overcame Vladimir Sidorenko (11-5, 17-15, 11-4). Iran in the ascendancy, in a tense five games contest Arya Amiri beat Lev Katsman by the narrowest of margins (13-15, 11-9, 7-11, 12-10, 12-10) to bring matters to a conclusion.

Success for Iran; also there was success and a place in the quarter-finals for India. The no.5 seeds; a three-one win was recorded against the no.11 seeds, Germany.

Hero of the hour India was Manav Vikash Thakkar; in the second match of the fixture he beat Kay Stumper by the very narrowest of margins (11-8, 14-16, 11-9, 6-11, 12-10), before bringing matters to a conclusion by overcoming Cédric Meissner (11-8, 11-2, 11-8). The remaining win for India was recorded in the third match when Manush Utpalbhai Shah overcame Meng Fanbo (11-6, 11-6, 12-10); the one success for Germany was secured by Cédric Meissner. In the opening match of the engagement, he accounted for Snehit Suravajjula (11-6, 11-5, 11-8).

A hard fought win for India, for Romania, the no.6 seeds and the United States, the no.8 seeds, life was slightly less exacting as they reserved last eight places.

Represented by Nikhil Kumar, Kanak Jha and Sharon Alguetti, the United States posted a three-nil win in opposition to the no.9 seeds, Singapore’s Pang Yew En Koen, Josh Chua Shao Han and Gerald Yu Zong Jun. Likewise, by the same margin, the no.6 seeds, Romania selecting Cristian Pletea, Rares Sipos and Cristian Chirita overcame the no.12 seeds, Poland’s Artur Grela, Samuel Kulczika and Jan Zandecki.

The quarter-finals of the Boys’ Team event will be played later in the day.