Hungary’s Georgina Póta won Group B on day one of the ITTF Women's World Cup ©ITTF/Organising Committee

Hungary’s Georgina Póta and Chinese Taipei's Chen Szu-Yu topped their respective groups today to earn a place in the main draw of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Women’s World Cup at the Pan Am Centre in Canadian city Markham.

Tenth seed Póta beat Australia’s Lay Jian Fang 11-8, 11-8, 10-12, 11-7, 14-2 and doubles partner Matilda Ekholm of Sweden 11-6, 11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-0 to win Group B.

Chen, the number 11 seed, defeated fellow tournament debutant Paulina Vega of Chile 11-8, 11-6, 11-3, 11-3 and Hong Kong’s Lee Ho Ching 11-9, 13-11, 11-9, 11-3 to secure first place in Group C.

In Group A, ninth seed Suh Hyowon of South Korea came out on top.

She started the day by overcoming the United States’ Lily Zhang 11-6, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7 before beating Canada’s Zhang Mo 11-9, 11-7, 11-9, 11-6.

Chinese Taipei's Chen Szu-Yu registered victories in both her matches today ©ITTF/Organising Committee
Chinese Taipei's Chen Szu-Yu registered victories in both her matches today ©ITTF/Organising Committee

Group D was won by Austria’s Liu Jia, who is making her 12th appearance in the tournament and thus equalling the record of Hong Kong’s Tie Yana.

The 12th seed defeated Egypt’s Dina Meshref 11-7, 11-7, 11-3, 11-5 and then overcame Germany’s Sabine Winter 11-3, 11-9, 11-6, 11-9.

Action is due to continue tomorrow when the knock-out stage begins.

It is the first time Canada has staged the Women’s World Cup.

A total of 16 nations are taking part in the 20-player competition.