by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
The exception was the Romanian pairing of Alexandru Cazacu and Rares Sipos; they emerged successful but, against the host nation’s Olajide Omotayo and Ojo Onaolapo, they needed the full five games in order to gain victory (11-5, 11-8, 11-13, 10-12, 11-8).
Defeat for Nigeria but there was success. Abdulrahaman Abdullah and Sola Oyetayo joined forces to beat Cameroon’s Alain Patrick Jague and Prosper Ndikum Asaah (8-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-9); the win coming after Quadri Aruna had partnered Egypt’s Omar Assar to victory over Bode Abiodun and Seun Ajetunmobi, like Quadri Aruna from the host country (10-12, 11-7, 11-8, 11-7).
Success as anticipated, it was the same for the French pairing of Antoine Hachard and Gregoire Jean, they accounted for the combination of Nigeria’a Nurudeen Hassan and Saheed Idowu (5-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-7).
Impressive from the French duo, it was the same from the Indian pairing of Sarthak Gandhi and Sanil Shetty; they beat Egypt’s Youssef Abdel-Aziz and Mahmoud Helmy in a most emphatic manner (11-8, 11-8, 11-8).
Similarly, Egypt’s Mohamed El-Beiali and Ahmed Ali Saleh overcame Russia’s Andrey Bukin and Vasilij Filatov in a similar manner (11-2, 11-9, 11-8); whilst in the all European duel, Italy’s Alessandro Baciocchi and John Oyebode accounted for the partnership formed by Finland’s Benedek Olah and Hungary’s Marton Szita (11-4, 11-9, 5-11, 14-12).
Last eight places for Asia, Africa and Europe; also there is a place for Latin America. Argentina’s Rodrigo Gilabert partnered Bulgaria’s Yavor Andreev to success against South Africa’s Theo Gogill and Kurt Lingeveldt (7-11, 12-10, 13-11, 11-6).
At the quarter-final stage, in the top half of the draw Antoine Hachard and Gregoire Jean meet Rodrigo Gilabert and Yavor Andreev; Mohamed El-Beiali and Ahmed Ali Saleh confront Quadri Aruna and Omar Assar.
In the lower half, it is Alexandru Cazacu and Rares Sipos against Alessandro Baciocchi and John Oyebode; Abdulrahaman Abdullah and Sola Oyetayo in opposition to Sarthak Gandhi and Sanil Shetty.
The matches will be played later in the day.
