by Ian Marshall, Editor
The no.6 seeds, in their opening contest, selecting Anna Wegrzyn, Katarzyna Wegrzyn and Aleksandra Michalak; a 3-0 defeat was experienced at the hands of the no.14 seeds, the DPR Korea outfit comprising Pyon Song Gyong, Kim Kum Yong and Kim Un Song.
Defeat and it meant no place in the quarter-finals for the Polish outfit. Earlier in the day, the same three players on duty, the same margin of victory had been recorded by DPR Korea in opposition to the no.11 seeds, Hong Kong’s Chau Wing Sze, Lee Ka Yee and Ng Wing Lam.
Poland and Hong Kong meet in the concluding fixture in the group; whatever the outcome they will compete for places no.9 to no.16; DPR Korea join the top four seeds – China, Japan, Russia, Chinese Taipei – in the main draw.
Comprehesive wins
Disappointment for Poland but not for the no.5 seeds, the United States combination of Crystal Wang, Amy Wang and Rachel Sung, they recorded a 3-0 win against the no.13 seeds, the Canadian combination of Kelly Fei Zhao, Benita Zhou and Sophie Gauthier.
Likewise, the no.7 seeds, France, with Isa Cok, Prithika Pavade and Camille Lutz on duty, secured the same margin of victory against the no.15 seeds, Nigeria’s Sukurat Aiyelbegan, Iyanu Oluwa Falana and Rofiat Jimoh.
Notably, the performance was matched by the no.8 seeds, Germany’s Franziska Schreiner, Anastasia Bondareva and Sophia Klee in their opening contest. They showed no charity when confronting the no.16 seeds, the host nation’s Pakawan Karnthang, Thapanee Phomma and Pomkanok Maunghwan.
Perfect records
Emphatic opening success; for the leading outfits in the boys’ team events not one individual match was surrendered, as the quest for a quarter-final place alongside Russia, Chinese Taipei, China and France began.
Japan, the no.5 seeds, with Yukiya Uda, Shunsuke Togami and Kakeru Sone on duty accounted for the no.14 seeds, the Chilean combination formed by Andres Martinez, Nicolas Burgos and Jorge Paredes. In a similarly impressive manner, the no.6 seeds, Singapore’s Josh Chua Shao Han, Pang Yew En Koen and Beh Kun Ting prevailed in opposition the no.13 seeds, the Nigerian trio of Azeez Solanke, Taiwo Mati and Jamiu Ayanwale.
Performances of note; it was the same from the no.7 seeds, the Belgian trio comprising Adrien Rassenfosse, Olav Kosolosky and Nicolas Degros; they were in the fast lane against the no.16 seeds, the Australian outfit formed by Lee Yonghun, Nicholas Lum and Finn Luu.
Arresting from one European country it was the same from another; the no.8 seeds, the German combination of Kay Stumper, Dominik Jonack and Kirill Fadeev imposed their authority on the no.15 seeds, the Peruvian outfit comprising Felipe Duffoo, John Loli and Carlos Fernandez.
Close call
Impressive victory margins but there was one close call; one which kept the host nation’s hopes alive. In the opening match in their boys’ team group, the no.12 seeds, Thailand’s Wattanachai Samranvong, Yanapong Panagitgun and Veerapat Puthungasern recorded a 3-2 win when facing the Chile’s Nicolas Burgos, Andres Martinez and Jorge Paredes.
Success and the most dramatic fixture of the day; Nicolas Burgos beat Wattanachai Samranvong (11-4, 11-5, 7-11, 11-4), before Andres Martinez accounted for Yanapong Panagitgun (4-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-6) to double the advantage.
It was at that stage the Thai revival began. Veerapat Puthungasern accounted for Jorge Paredes (6-11, 14-12, 11-9, 11-6), Yanapong Panagitgun levelled matters by overcoming Nicolas Burgos (11-7, 7-11, 8-11, 11-7, 13-11), before in an equally dramatic encounter, Wattanachai Samranvong beat Andres Martinez by the very narrowest of margins to be the hero of the hour (9-11, 10-12, 11-6, 11-5, 11-9).
The group phase fixtures conclude on Monday 25th November, the day on which the quarter-finals will be played plus the commencement of engagements for places no.9 to no.16.
