England men confirmed a knockout place and the women defeated the top side in their group but lost to Canada, as the Leopards’ World Team Championships campaign continued.
Tin-Tin Ho, Maria Tsaptsinos and Denise Payet faced Chile in England’s first match of the day and the South Americans took the lead when world No 54 Paulina Vega beat Tsaptsinos in four.
Ho levelled by beating Daniela Ortega, ranked at 135, again in four, and Denise Payet then continued her good run of form against higher-ranked players as she defeated world No 248 Judith Morales in another four-setter.
Ho then faced Vega and, after going 2-1 behind, blitzed through the fourth game for the loss of a single point and continued her form into the fifth to seal a 3-1 overall victory for England.
But a first defeat of the tournament followed against Canada, despite Ho giving them a flying start with a defeat of Justina Yeung in three straight.
Mo Zhang was the major stumbling block, beating Tsaptsinos and Ho either side of Alicia Cote defeating Payet.
It leaves England facing a crunch match against Serbia tomorrow to determine the group final standings and how they will progress in the tournament.
The men were always favourites against Singapore, who they beat in the Commonwealth Games bronze medal match and who elected not to put world No 47 Gao Ning in their line-up.
And it was a smooth process for England as Paul Drinkhall and Sam Walker both won 3-1, either side of another commanding 3-0 win for Liam Pitchford. England are now guaranteed to reach at least the last 16, and victory in tomorrow’s match against Belgium will put them into the quarter-finals.
Results
Women’s Group H
England 3 Chile 1
Paulina Vega bt Maria Tsaptsinos 3-1 (11-9, 4-11, 11-7, 11-9)
Tin-Tin Ho bt Daniela Ortega 3-1 (11-7, 4-11, 11-9, 11-8)
Denise Payet bt Judith Morales 3-1 (9-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-7)
Ho bt Vega 3-2 (9-11, 14-12, 7-11, 11-1, 11-5)
Canada 3 England 1
Ho bt Justina Yeung 3-0 (11-7, 11-5, 11-6)
Mo Zhang bt Tsaptsinos 3-2 (8-11, 11-3, 9-11, 11-2, 11-4)
Alicia Cote bt Payet 3-0 (11-7, 12-10, 11-4)
Zhang bt Ho 3-1 (11-4, 11-3, 10-12, 11-4)
Men’s Group C
England 3 Singapore 0
Paul Drinkhall bt Ethan Poh 3-1 (11-7, 11-3, 7-11, 11-7)
Pitchford bt Pang Xue Jie 3-0 (11-3, 11-4, 11-6)
Sam Walker bt Beh Kun Ting 3-1 (9-11, 11-8, 11-2, 11-3)