Paul Drinkhall will hope to qualify this weekend

The draw has been made for the preliminary stage at the European Olympic Qualification Tournament in Luxembourg and it’s risen a number of tough fixtures for the British hopefuls.

While Paul Drinkhall will hope to progress through his group with relative comfort, both Andrew Baggaley and Liam Pitchford will have to fight for the top two places in their group to progress.

Baggaley has to face Swede Jens Lundqvist (43) as well as young French starlet Quentin Robinot (151) who could prove particularly difficult. Pitchford meanwhile, must face second seed Robert Gardos (29), who was in sublime form at the World Team Table Tennis Championships in Dortmund for his country Austria, while he must also play Josef Simoncik (131) from the Czech Republic.

English Champion Drinkhall must play Petr Korbel (76) but will feel confident of at least second place with three much lower ranked players remaining in his group.

The women also have a tough task to progress in three-player groups.

Kelly Sibley must play both Matilda Ekholm (50) and Tian Yuan (139) while Joanna Parker faces Petra Lovas (73) and Asya Kasabova (274).

Irish girl Liu Na will need to beat at least one of Natalia Partyka (77) or Amelie Solja (125) in order to keep her automatic dream alive.

Below is a list of the groups and matches on table 1 and 2 which can be seen on demand on Laola1.tv

European Olympic Draws:

Men:

Group B Robert Gardos (AUT, 29), Josef Simoncik (CZE, 131), Liam  Pitchford (GBR, 147), Petko Gabrovski (BUL, 422)

Group D Jens Lundqvist (SWE, 43), Andrew Baggaley (GBR, 130), Quentin Robinot (FRA, 151), Gencay Menge (TUR, 367)

Group H Petr Korbel (CZE, 76), Paul Drinkhall (GBR, 106), Yannick Vostes (BEL, 215), Gilles Michely (LUX, 461), Jan Zibrat (SLO, 246)

Group B Matilda Ekholm (SWE, 50), Tian Yuan (CRO, 139), Kelly Sibley (GBR, 168)

Group F Petra Lovas (HUN, 73), Joanna Parker (GBR, 136), Asya Kasabova (BUL, 274)

Group H Natalia Partyka (POL, 77), Amelie Solja (AUT, 125), Liu Na (GBR, 235)

Read the preview here.

Table 1 and 2 Matches

9am Paul Drinkhall vs Jan Zibrat (table 1)

11:15am Robert Gardos vs Liam Pitchford (table 2)

14:30 Matilda Ekholm vs Kelly Sibley (table 2)

16:45pm Jens Lundqvist vs Andrew Baggaley (table 2)

Thursday

16:00pm Joanna Parker vs Asya Kasabova (table 1)