by Ian Marshall, Editor
Overall it was a day when the principal names on duty enjoyed success and a young lady from India, made her presence felt.
Men’s Singles Qualification
…………the leading name on duty, Pavel Platonov of Belarus duly secured first place in his group. He beat Saudi Arabia’s Abdulaziz Bu Shulaybi (11-7, 11-9, 11-9) and Iran’s Amir Hossein Hodaei (11-3, 11-5, 11-6)
…………Now 41 years old, a wealth of experience, Slovakia’s Thomas Keinath caused the biggest upset. Listed at no.669 on the current men’s world rankings, he beat Belgium’s Martin Allegro, named at no.109 (11-9, 16-14, 6-11, 11-3, 12-10)
…………runner up at the European Championships in both 2010 and 2011, Germany’s Patrick Baum performed the recovery of the day. He fought back to beat Egypt’s Khalid Assar in five games (9-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-2). Furthermore he caused an upset, Khalid Assar is named at no.182 on the men’s world rankings, Patrick Baum at no.322
Women’s Singles Qualification
…………Russia’s Yana Noskova, the highest rated player on duty, made a fine start to her campaign; she beat Kazakhstan’s Gulchekhra Khusseinova (11-7, 11-7, 11-5)
…………No current world ranking, India’s Riti Shankar caused major upsets; she beat both Slovakia’s Tatiana Kukulkova (11-7, 11-9, 12-10) and Iran’s Mahshid Ashtari (11-8, 11-1, 11-4). On the current women’s world rankings Tatiana Kukulkova is listed at no.126, Mahshid Ashtari at no.172
…………Crowned European champion in 2010 and 2012, now 40 years old, Viktoria Pavlovich underlined the fact that her defensive skills are as secure as ever. In her one and only match of the day, she beat India’s Selena Selvakumar in straight games (11-3, 11-4, 11-2)
Under 21 Men’s Singles Qualification
…………high hopes but the top three names all ended the day without a win to their names; Qatar’s Mohammed Abdulwahhab and Abdulrahman Al-Naggar, in addition to India’s Siddesh Pande suffered agonies
Under 21 Men’s Singles Qualification
…………the leading names both experienced defeats; India’s Archana Girish Kamath was beaten by Iran’s Parinoz Hajilou (11-7, 11-9, 11-4), Nadezhda Bogdanova of Belarus lost to Singapore’s Tan En Hui (11-3, 11-5, 11-6)
