England’s men and women could face rematches against Turkey and Lithuania respectively as the draws were made for the second phase of the ZEN-NOH 2014 World Team Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
Early in the day both English squads were victorious in their final group meetings against Israel. Daniel Reed’s double helped the men to a 3-1 victory while a win apiece for Joanna Drinkhall, Kelly Sibley and Tin-Tin Ho secured a straightforward 3-0 win for the women.
With five wins from five the male quartet of Liam Pitchford, Paul Drinkhall, Daniel Reed and Sam Walker comfortably topped Group G to secure their bye into the quarter-finals. However, despite Joanna Drinkhall, Kelly Sibley, Tin-Tin Ho and Hannah Hicks’ fourth victory in Group F, Malaysia’s defeat to Wales meant that the women missed out on top spot to Lithuania on a head-to-head record.
Therefore, the women will play an extra fixture in pursuit of a place in the final, and an automatic spot in 2016’s Championship Division, starting with Group G’s third-placed side Portugal. Should they emerge victorious they will face a rematch with Lithuania (who beat the English girls 3-1 on Wednesday) at the quarter-final stage.
The men, safely into the quarter-finals, could also face a former group opponent with Turkey being drawn against Nigeria in the last 16 tie. The boys will remain confident ahead of either opponent, knowing that a win coupled with a second victory (potentially against fellow top seeds Iran) would see them return to the Championships Division for the first time since 1997.
Click here to see the men’s knockout draw and women’s knockout draw
Find reports from days 1, 2 and 3 at the 2014 World Championships here.
Friday’s fixture:
England women vs Portugal women (08:30 GMT) – LIVE on itTV
Saturday’s fixtures:
England men vs Winner of Nigeria men/Turkey men (05:00 GMT)
Winner of England women/Portugal women vs Lithuania women (05:00 GMT)
Latest 2014 World Team Championships, Tokyo (JPN) Scores:
Men’s Challenge Division Group G:
England 3-1 Israel
Liam Pitchford bt Michael Tauber (407) 3-0 (12-10, 11-8, 11-6)
Daniel Reed bt Gregory Elensky (unranked) 3-0 (11-8, 11-5, 13-11)
Omri Ben Ari (unranked) bt Sam Walker 3-2 (11-8, 6-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-7)
Daniel Reed bt Michael Tauber (407) 3-0 (11-7, 11-5, 11-2)
Women’s Challenge Division Group F
England 3-0 Israel
Joanna Drinkhall bt Nicole Trosman (185) 3-1 (11-2, 11-4, 11-13, 11-4)
Kelly Sibley bt Neli Shoifer (438) 3-1 (11-6, 11-7, 5-11, 11-9)
Tin-Tin Ho bt Shelli Gelman (475) 3-0 (11-9, 11-3, 11-8)