by Ian Marshall, Editor
Impressively Liu Gaoyuan in harness with colleague, Zhang Rui accounted for the combination of Argentina’s Camila Arguelles and Belgium’s Nathalie Marchetti (11-2, 11-7, 11-9); in a similar vein, Park Joohyun partnering compatriot, Lee Yuijin, overcame Russia’s Maria Malanina and Polina Mikhailova (11-6, 13-11, 11-4).
Defeat for Russia but there was success, Valeria Shcherbatykh and Mariia Tailakova overcame India’s Ankita Das and Divya Deshpande (12-10, 11-6, 7-11, 8-11, 11-5).
A hard fought success; it was the same for Brazil’s Caroline Kumahara and Bruna Takahashi. They needed the full five games to beat Romania’s Irina Ciobanu and Alina Zaharia, emerging successful by the minimal two point margin in the decider (11-7, 6-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-9). In a likewise vein, Alina Arlouskaya and Alina Nikitchanka eventually overcame the partnership formed by Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Emina Hadziahmetovic and Serbia’s Anelia Lupulescu (9-11, 4-11, 12-10, 11-5, 11-9).
Meanwhile for the latter’s colleague, Andrea Todorovic, who joined forces with Italy’s Debora Vivarelli, life was only marginally less testing. They recorded a five games success when facing the pairing formed by Hungary’s Orsolya Feher and Luxembourg’s Sarah Meyer (10-12, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-6).
Similarly in the opening round of the Men’s Doubles qualification event there were close calls.
Baek Hogyun, who had shone earlier in the day in the group stage of the Men’s Singles event, partnered Korea Republic colleague, Kim Daewoo to a hard fought win in opposition to Romania’s Cristian Pletea and Hunor Szocs (11-6, 6-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-3).
Likewise, Turkey’s Ibrahim Gündüz and Abdullah Yigenler needed the full five games to beat Lithuania’s Tomas Mikutis and Alfredas Udra (5-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 11-9), as did Russia’s Vildan Gladiev and Grigory Vlasov when opposing the Czech Republic’s Pavel Sirucek and Tomas Tregler (8-11, 12-10, 11-7, 2-11, 11-9).
Play in the qualification tournament concludes on Wednesday 15th August.
