by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Man of the moment was Carlo Rossi; he remained unbeaten as he guided his colleagues to a three-one victory.

He accounted for Dragos Florin Oprea in the second match of the engagement (11-9, 11-8, 11-8), before bringing matters to a conclusion by accounting for George Vrabie (12-10, 11-7, 13-11).

The one remaining win for the Italians was recorded by Gabriele Piciulin in the opening match of the fixture; he overcame George Vrabie in a full five games contest (11-3, 9-11, 11-5, 5-11, 11-8). The one success for the defeated was posted by Paul Mladin; in the third match of the contest, he accounted for Matteo Cerza (2-11, 11-6, 11-9, 12-10).

Likewise in the Junior Boys’ Team event, there was success in their opening fixture for the Italy ‘A’ outfit formed by Antonino Amato, Matteo Mutti and Daniele Pinto; the top seeds, the recorded a three matches to nil win in opposition to the Bosnia-Herzegovina combination of Nikola Mihailovic, Luka Mihailovic and Emie Mujicic.

Two worthy victories; alas for the Italy ‘C’ formation of Nicola Bemi, Mariano Trifiro and Michelle Virgini, it was a three-nil reverse at the hands of Hungary’s Patrik Juhasz, Istvan Molnar and Norbert Nagy.

Meanwhile, in the Junior Girls’ Team event it was defeat for the host nation in their opening engagements.

Italy ‘A’, represented by Marcella Delasa, Simona Ettari and Sofia Mescieri, experienced a three-two loss at the hands of the team formed by Romania’s Tania Plaian who partnered Yoeke Gunsing and Vera Van Boheemen of the Netherlands.

Likewise for the Italy ‘B’ outfit formed by Martina Nino, Jesica Ramazzini and Sofia Sfameni, it was a three-nil defeat when opposing Croatia’s Klara Bardac, Andrea Pavlovic and Leona Santek.

Other than for Italy ‘A’ in the Junior Boys’ Team event, the leading outfits have yet to start their schedules.