Table Tennis: Table service resumes in European Championships

ALISON GORDON, of England, displays grim determination during her 21-14, 21-14 defeat by Italy's Fliura Abbate-Bulatova, a former European champion with the Soviet Union, during team competition in the European Championships which began at Birmingham's National Indoor Arena yesterday. The English women lost 4-3 to the Italians, with Abbate also beating Lisa Lomas, though England, seeded fourth, can still recover to qualify for the last four.

For the men, Carl Prean beat one of the game's greats as England began their medal challenge with a 4-0 victory over Hungary. The former national champion won 15-10, 15-10 against Tibor Klampar, a former world doubles champion and a leading member of the 1979 world title-winning team.

Prean's place has been in danger after a season blighted by injury and loss of confidence, but the calm aggression with which he overwhelmed the 41 year old, as well as his efficient display in the doubles, suggested England may be good enough to win a medal for the fourth successive time in this 46-nation tournament.

The title could be up for grabs between several countries, for the world champions, Sweden, suffered their first defeat in the European Championships for 10 years. Aiming for their fifth successive title, the Swedes lost 4-2 to Belgium with the Olympic champion Jan-Ove Waldner losing 21-18, 23-21 to the new world No 2, Jean-Michel Saive.

England's other winners were Matthew Syed and Chen Xinhua.

Results, Sporting Digest, page 51

(Photograph omitted)