Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom

Table Tennis: England caught napping

By John Woodford in Osaka

Last Updated: 4:04AM BST 20 Sep 2008

THE World Championship match between Wales and England had to be
rescheduled yesterday when the Welsh women’s team arrived at the table
at 8am to discover that their opponents had not yet got out of bed.

Organisers had switched the match from evening to early morning after
the Turkmenistan team arrived late, but they failed to ensure that all
the players knew of the change. Wales wanted to claim the match but a
settlement was reached and it will now be played at midday
today. England will also meet Turkmenistan today and the men’s team,
3-2 winners against Armenia in their opening match, face Turkey.

England’s Louise Durrant is still struggling with a wrist injury,
leaving the line-up as Helen Lower, Katy Parker – daughter of the
former European champion Jill Parker – and Natalie Bawden.

Favourites for the Swayth- ling Cup, the men’s world team trophy, are
China, who are fielding one of the strongest teams ever seen,
spearheaded by world No 1 Wang Liqin, holder of the English Open
title.

Sweden, holders of the cup after beating China 3-2 in the final in
Kuala Lumpur last year, are the second seeds. They are at full
strength, led by the former Olympic and world champion Jan Waldmer and
supported by Jorgen Persson and European champion Peter Karlsson.

England’s men were forced to battle hard in their late-night opening
match, winning 3-2 against lowly Armenia. Terry Young and Gareth
Herbert were beaten by the Armenian No 1, Samuel Vardanyan, but both
redeemed themselves with victories over David Sargsyan. The decisive
result came when Andrew Baggaley beat Murad Asatryan.

England will need to lift themselves today if they are to make further
progress.