TABLE TENNIS duo Paul Drinkhall and Liam Pitchford are a step nearer to competing at this summer’s Olympics after emerging unscathed from the preliminary stages of the penultimate European qualifier in Luxembourg.
Drinkhall and Pitchford reached the last 32 of the men’s event at the National Sports Centre, with 11 qualifying places up for grabs prior to the final qualifier in Qatar in May.
Drinkhall face Yaroslav Zhmudenko of Ukraine today while Pitchford will take on Carlos Machado of Spain, while in the women’s event, Joanna Parker will face Renata Strbikova of the Czech Republic.
Great Britain are guaranteed three qualifying places in the each of the men’s and women’s Olympic events, as hosts, but there are several playrs seeking to qualify automatically before the GB Table Tennis decision next month.
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