Koki Niwa made it through at the ITTF Austrian Open in Linz today ©Getty Images

Japan's Koki Niwa got his International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Austrian Open campaign off to a successful start today as the round of 64 began at the Tips Arena in Linz.

After two days of qualification action, competition in the main draw of the World Tour tournament got underway.

Niwa, the 2010 Summer Youth Olympic Games champion, is the top seed in the men's tournament and showed his class to overcome England’s Samuel Walker.

The world number 15 lost the opening game but responded by going on to win the contest 10-12, 11-9, 11-6, 9-11, 11-4, 11-7.

Portugal's Tiago Apolonia, 18th in the world rankings, also made it through as he beat Hong Kong’s Lam Siu Hang in straight games, 11-8, 11-3, 11-7, 11-9.

Former World Junior Table Tennis Championships winner Chen Chien-an of Chinese Taipei also advanced.

He dispatched Jesus Cantero of Spain 12-10, 11-8, 19-17, 8-11, 11-3.

Koki Niwa, ranked 15 in the world, beat England’s Samuel Walker in the round of 64 ©Getty Images
Koki Niwa, ranked 15 in the world, beat England’s Samuel Walker in the round of 64 ©Getty Images

In the women’s competition, Cheng I-ching of Chinese Taipei safely progressed to the last 32.

The world number eight is the favourite to win in Linz and showed her prowess by defeating Charlotte Carey of Wales, 11-6, 6-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-5.

Zeng Jian of Singapore maintained her recent spell of good form as she coasted past Mak Tze Wing of Hong Kong in straight games.

After winning the Under-21 women's singles title at the 2016 China Open in September, Zeng brushed Mak aside 11-2, 11-2, 14-12, 11-5.

Germany's Xiaona Shan, the only non-Asian player in the top 10 seeds, was eliminated.

Iveta Vacenovska got the better of Shan in a seven game thriller to eliminate the Olympic team silver medallist, 8-11, 4-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-6, 4-11, 11-3.