The Netherlands, the reigning European champions and Korea booked their places in the quarter-final stage of the women’s event at the Liebherr World Team Championships in Moscow by recording respective victories over Poland and Croatia in their first round encounters on Thursday 27th May 2010.

Korea represented by Park Mi Young, Kim Kyung Ah and Dang Ye Seo recorded a hard fought three-one victory over Croatia’s Andrea Bakula, Mirela Durak and Cornelia Vaida; whilst in a thrilling full distance duel it was success for the Netherlands trio of Li Jiao, Li Jie and Elena Timina.

At 11.55pm they finally overcame the Polish outfit of Li Qian, Xu Jie and Natalia Partyka in a contest that had commenced at 7.30pm!

In the quarter-finals, the Netherlands meet China whilst Korea confronts Japan.

In the opening contest in the duel between the Netherlands and Poland, Li Jiao proved too experienced for Natalia Partyka in the opening match of the contest; the left handed penholder was simply too clever for the 20 year old Polish star.

The trade learnt in China made its presence felt, over the table, executing the nuances of the sport, Li Jiao was in the ascendancy and in the art of service and first attack she held the upper hand from start to finish.

Next into the arena came Li Jie for the Netherlands and Li Qian for Poland, both players with classic Asian defensive styles honed in China.

Not surprisingly the Expedite Rule had to be invoked.

It was a long and hard fought duel with the marginal extra ability of Li Qian in the forehand attacking department proved the determining factor.

The fight was on and nobody relishes the fight more than Elena Timina, she was next into the arena to face Xu Jie.

It was the Chinese honed skills of the stylish Xu Jie against the solid backhand backspin defence and sheer willpower of the Moscow born Timina, the hometown girl.

Elena Timina as always gave a thousand per cent effort but it was Xu Jie, directing her attacks principally towards the forehand of Timina, who held a 9-6 lead in the fourth game and was one game ahead; the stage at which the Expedite Rule was invoked.

The Netherlands defender levelled at 9-all, the Polish camp called “Time Out” with Li Qian being called upon to advise Xu Jie. The advice was sound, Xu Jie won the next two points.

Poland held a one match lead.

Next into the arena came Li Jiao for the Netherlands and Li Qian for Poland; the latter established a two games to one lead and was ahead 8-7 in the fourth game.

Chen Zhibin, the Netherlands coach on duty, called “Time Out”, Li Jiao levelled but at 10-9 it was match point to Li Qian. The match point was saved, then it was Li Qian’s turn to save. She saved four game points before Li Jiao succeeded to level matters.

In the crucial fifth game Li Qian made the better start, at the change of ends she led 5-4 and then extended the lead to 7-5, the stage at which, Li Jiao mounted a recovery. She surrendered just one more point to secure success and force a showdown between Li Jie and Natalia Partyka.

The duel between Natalia Partyka and Li Jie was a battle of wills with the Expedite Rule being invoked with Natalia Partyka leading by two games to one but trailing 7-10.

Li Jie eventually won the game to force a decider.

Neither play in the fifth game was able to establish a commanding lead; at 9-all it was parity with Li Jie to serve. She served, attacked with the forehand, an outright winner, then trying to attack on her own service, Partyka erred.

At 11.55pm it was victory for the Netherlands, the Dutch supporters celebrated.

A brave effort by Poland and it was a brave effort by Croatia.

Andrea Bakula, 28 years old, excelled all expectations in the first contest in the duel between Croatia and Korea; in a closely fought five games duel, she defeated Park Mi Young.

It was one of the biggest upsets of the tournament to date. Park Mi Young currently occupies the no.11 spot on the ITTF Women’s World Rankings whilst Andrea Bakula is at no.143.

However, table tennis is not won and lost with computerized statistics; it is won using bat, ball, skill and determination and when it came to determination, the Croatian was single minded.

Andrea Bakula is not the fastest player on planet earth but she is strong, consistent and being left handed was perhaps to her advantage against the right handed defensive skills of Park Mi Young.

The natural direction of her forehand being directed across the diagonal towards the backhand of Park Mi Young, the side of the racket on which there are long pimples and variation is difficult.

First blood to Croatia but Korea soon levelled with the defensive skills of Kim Kyung Ah far too much for 20year old Mirela Durak.

In three straight games she secured victory.

Two Korean defenders on duty, next came the attacker in the guise of Dang Ye Seo who faced a very determined Cornelia Vaida.

Both stood toe-to-toe with Vaida taking a two games to one lead an d then moving ahead 3-0 in the fourth game to the delight of Croatian coach, Neven Cegnar who cries of delight as Vaida moved into a 5-0 lead could be heard in St Petersburg.

Dang Ye Seo recovered to win the next five points but at 10-8, Cornelia Vaida held two match points, both were saved; Dang Ye Seo capured the next two and for Romania a golden opportunity had slipped through the fingers.

The Korean was motivated, in the fifth game, Cornelia Vaida led 7-6 and it had to happen.

Neven Cegnar, perhaps a little over exuberant, incurred the wrath of the umpire; as happened in the past he was dismissed from the court; s to whether the incident had an effect on the outcome is conjecture but Cornelia Vaida did not win another point; it was advantage Korea.

Croatian eyes now focused on Andrea Bakula who against Kim Kyung Ah, arguably the world’s leading female defensive player, gave her best and she tested the Korean star.

However, she could not cross the finishing line, Kim Kyung Ah emerged victorious, her class apparent.

Korea, seeded no.4, had reserved a quarter-final berth; the trio of Kim Kyung Ah, Park Mi Young and Dang Ye Seo alongside coach Hyun Jung Hwa bowed in unison and in gratitude to thank their supporters.