Table tennis: NZ men through, women out of singles

MELBOURNE - All three New Zealand men's table tennis singles players won their way through to the Commonwealth Games main draw in Melbourne today.

Shane Laugesen beat Floriano Massah of Malawi in straight sets, Brad Chen dropped one set to Warren Hau of Mauritius and Peter Jackson took out South African Shane Overmeyer 4-1, after losing the opening set.

All three will play in the Games main draw of 64 when the knockout phase starts tomorrow.

New Zealand did not fare as well in the women's singles, where Sophie Shu and Annie Yang failed to win their way out of the qualifying round.

Yang lost to Sara Yuen after taking her to a seventh set, which the Canadian won 11-9.

Shu lost 1-3 to Sock Khim Ng of Malaysia.

Women's singles, qualifying:- Annie Yang lost to Sara Yuen (Canada) 11-7, 8-11, 6-11, 11-9, 9-11, 12-10, 9-11 (eliminated); Sophie Shu lost to Sock Khim Ng (Malaysia) 7-11, 7-11, 6-11, 7-11 (eliminated). Men's singles, qualifying: Shane Laugesen beat Floriano Massah (Malawi) 11-4, 11-7, 11-4, 11-6 (qualified for round of 64); Brad Chen beat Warren Hau (Mauritius) 11-7, 11-2, 11-4, 6-11, 11-5 (qualified); Peter Jackson beat Shane Overmeyer (South Africa) 11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-3.

- NZPA