by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

It was an outcome as status advised; Algeria commenced matters as the no.17 seeds; Brazil occupied the no.10 seeded position in the competition.

However, one wondered if an upset was to accrue? In the opening match of the fixture, Hiba Feredj accounted for Alexia Nakashima in three straight games (11-7, 11-9, 12-10).

It was not to be the scenario; there was a rapid response from the Brazilians, no further individual games were surrendered. Bruna Takahashi beat both Loubna Djedjik (11-5, 11-5, 15-13) and Hiba Feredj (11-7, 11-7, 11-5), whilst sandwiched in between Livia Lima overcame Malissa Nasri (11-6, 11-6, 11-8).

Success for Brazil, there were also successes for the United States, Serbia and Spain; all as status predicted and all posting three matches to nil wins in a competition where the teams finishing in first place in each of the four groups advance to join the top eight seeds in stage two.

The United States, the no.9 seeds, with Amy Wang, Angela Guan and Grace Yang on duty, accounted for the Australian trio, the no.18 seeds, formed by Holly Nicolas, Antonia Zhang and Georgina Newton.

Similarly Serbia represented by Izabela Lupulesku, Tijana Jokic and Dragana Vignjevic proved too experienced for the Fijian trio comprising Ruta Ioane, who lined up alongside sisters Sally Yee and Grace Rosi Yee.

Serbia commenced matters as the no.11 seeds; the Fiji Islands, the no.19 seeds.

Comprehensive victory margins; it was the same for Spain, the no.12 seeds, in opposition to South Africa, the no.20 seeds. The Spanish selection of Ana Garcia, Zhang Xuan and Yolanda Enriquez proved too experienced for the host nation’s Musfiquh Kalam, Lekeasha Johnson and Keshmika Sivnarin.

The first stage of the Girls’ Team event concludes later in the day.