TABLE TENNIS: The Australian women’s table tennis team has finished the group stage of the World Teams Championship in Kuala Lumpur undefeated, after beating closest rivals Uzbekistan 3-0 on Wednesday.

The result left Australia on top of their Group three pool, and has earned them a day off ahead of the knockout rounds of the competition.

Vivian Dederko and Melissa Tapper continued their outstanding tournament with another two wins, although Dederko was pushed to five games by Uzbekistan’s Olga Kim before racing away with the final game 11-2.

Australia’s highest ranked world player, four-time Olympian Jian Fang Lay, completed the clean sweep for Australia.

Australia will play the winner of Thursday’s match between Venezuela and Wales in the next round.

The Australian men’s team got off to a bright start in their match against Bulgaria, with Glasgow team member Kane Townsend clinching the opening rubber.

But the Europeans fought back to win the next three games and the match, 3-1, meaning Australia finished fifth in their Group Two pool.

Ross Solly
Table Tennis Auustralia