by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

A close call for one previous winner; for another life was less exacting.

Egypt’s Dina Meshref who had partnered Portugal’s Shao Jieni to success in 2015; emerged successful in harness with compatriot, Yousra Helmy. The no.2 seeds, they accounted for the South African pairing of Simeen Mookrey and Sanisha Patel (11-3, 11-5, 11-7).

Success for Dina Meshref but not for Shao Jieni; scheduled to partner Olufunke Oshonaike, the duo conceded their proposed match against the partnership comprising India’s Mallika Bhandarkar and Nigeria’s Agnes Onoja. Similarly, India’s Krittwika Roy and Reeth Tennison received a walk-over when scheduled to play the host’s Ajoke Ojomu and Esther Oribamise.

Disappointment for the Nigeria but there was success. Cecilia Akpan and Janet Offiom beat Ghana’s Cecila Frema and Beatrice Gyasi (11-3, 11-0, 8-11, 11-5). Difficult times for Cecila Frema and Beatrice Gyasi; it was the same for their colleagues Mareen Adom Amankaa and Celia Baah-Danso; they experienced defeat at the hands of Egypt’s Farah Abdel-Aziz and Amira Yousry (11-3, 11-6, 11-8).

Quarter-final places for Asia and Africa; Europe was not left out. In addition to Irina Ermakova and Olga Kulikova; at the expense of Nigeria, there was further success. At the expense of Nigeria, Hungary’s Bernadette Balint and Szandra Pergel, the top seeds, beat Nigeria’s Aminat Fashola and Abosede Odusanya (11-6, 11-5, 11-8), the combination of Ukraine’s Ganna Farladanska and Italy’s Giorgia Piccolin, accounted for Nike Aroyehun and Rashidat Ogundele (11-3, 12-10, 11-3).

At the quarter-final stage Bernadette Balint and Szandra Pergel meet Irina Ermakova and Olga Kulikova; Farah Abdel-Aziz and Amira Yousry oppose Krittwika Roy and Reeth Tennison. In the opposite half of the draw Mallika Bhandarkar and Agnes Onoja play Cecilia Akpan and Janet Offiom; Yousra Helmy and Dina Meshref face Ganna Farladanska and Italy’s Giorgia Piccolin.

The matches are scheduled for later in the day.