by Ian Marshall, Editor
A busy day of competition was the order of proceedings, play commencing at 9.00 and and concluding some 12 hours later.
Men’s Singles
…………Moldova’s Andrei Putuntica caused the biggest upset; he beat India’s Amalraj Anthony (7-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-9, 12-10), the third highest rated player on duty, to secure top spot in his group.
…………Runner up four days earlier in Belgrade, Frenchman Abdel-Kader Salifou upset the odds. He accounted for Slovakia’s Samuel Novota (11-8, 11-8, 11-6) the highest rated player in the group, to reserve first place.
Women’s Singles
…………Uzbekistan’s Olga Kim emerged the player to attract the attention. She remained unbeaten to secure a main draw place; in her concluding group stage contest, she accounted for Belgium’s Lisa Lung (7-11, 11-5, 11-6, 7-11, 11-9) the third highest rated on initial phase duty.
…………Poland’s Natalia Bajor remained unbeaten, she ended her group matches with success against Spain’s Ana Garcia (10-12, 11-6, 11-2, 11-3); of the top five names in the qualification tournament, she was the only one to secure a main draw place.
Men’s Doubles
…………Four days earlier partnering colleague, Marko Jevtovic, Serbia’s Zsolt Peto had emerged a silver medallist at the Seamaster 2019 ITTF Challenge Serbia Open; four days later he guided Dimitrije Levajac, also from Serbia, to the main draw.
Women’s Doubles
…………France and Hong Kong enjoyed success; Laura Pfefer and Audrey Zarif alongside Oceane Guisnel and Marie Migot booked main draw places, as for Hong Kong did Liu Qi and Mak Tze Wing in addition to Li Ching Wan and Zhu Chengzhu.
Under 21 Men’s Singles
…………Winner the previous week in Serbia, Frenchman Leo de Nodrest made a successful start in his bid for a repeat performance but he was tested. In the opening round needed the full five games to beat Poland’s Maciej Kubik (8-11, 11-9, 11-3, 2-11, 11-8).
Under 21 Women’s Singles
…………Japan’s Miyu Nagasaki and Yumeno Soma, the respective top two names survived as did India’s Archana Girish Kamath, the sixth in the order of merit but of the top 14 names, they were the only ones to progress to round three.
