Former champion Ruta Paskauskiene of Lithuania has been knocked out of the women’s singles competition at the European Table Tennis Championships in Budapest ©ITTF/Rémy Gros

Former champion Ruta Paskauskiene of Lithuania has been knocked out of the women’s singles competition at the European Table Tennis Championships in Budapest after suffering a first-round defeat against Slovakia’s Eva Ódorová.

The 2008 winner, who had to come through qualification to reach this stage, was beaten 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 10-12, 5-11, 8-11 by the number 31 seed.

There was no such trouble, however, for two-time champion Viktoria Pavlovich as the Belarusian number 14 seed overcame Poland’s Natalia Bajor 11-1, 11-8, 8-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-8.

The most prominent names in the top half of the draw also advanced with number three seed Shan Xiaona of Germany battling to a hard-fought 11-6, 8-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7, 12-14, 11-5 victory over France’s Stéphanie Loeuillette.

Compatriot Han Ying, the top seed, had a more comfortable route through to the second round by defeating Spain’s Zhang Xuan 11-6, 11-5, 11-5, 11-2.

The same could be said for number five seed Li Jie, who beat Slovenia’s Manca Fajmut 11-4, 11-3 11-4, 11-5.

The Dutchwoman is looking to go one better than last year, when she finished runner-up to Romania’s Elizabeta Samara.

Czech Republic's Tomas Konecny saw his men's singles campaign come to an early end ©ITTF/Chris Petkov
Czech Republic's Tomas Konecny saw his men's singles campaign come to an early end ©ITTF/Chris Petkov

Czech Republic’s Tomas Konecny was one of the major casualties in the opening round of the men’s singles competition, losing in seven games against 18-year-old qualifier Aliaksandr Khanin of Belarus.

The number 30 seed created history earlier this year in the Bulgarian town of Panagyurishte, where he became the first-ever player from the Czech Republic to win an International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour men’s singles title.

Hopes of adding more silverware were dashed today, however, with Khanin upsetting the odds to claim a 9-11, 17-19, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-5 victory.

Another teenager to enjoy success was Sweden’s Anton Källberg, winner of the junior boys’ singles crown at the 2015 European Youth Championships, as he overcame number 24 seed Adrian Crisan of Romania 12-10, 11-7, 2-11, 11-13, 11-5, 12-10.

There were no such upsets for the leading names involved in the top half of the draw with top seed and defending champion Dimitrij Ovtcharov of Germany beating Spain’s Marc Duran 11-6, 11-9, 11-3, 13-11.

Number three seed Marcos Freitas of Portugal defeated Hungary’s Adam Szudi 11-5, 11-8, 11-4, 11-8, while number seven seed Stefan Fegerl of Austria overcame Russia’s Sadi Ismailov 11-8, 11-9, 11-4, 11-6.