Pickard and Williams drawn in same Commonwealth Games group

England’s Fliss Pickard has been drawn in the same group as her Welsh doubles partner Grace Williams in the women’s class 6-10 event at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Pickard will begin against Noela Olo from the Solomon Islands while Williams takes on Lei Li Na, the Chinese born class 9 World number one who now represents Australia.

In women’s class 3-5 Sue Bailey starts her bid for a third Commonwealth title against Sonalben Manubhai Patel from India before facing Chinenye Obiora from Nigeria with her final group match against Amanda Jane Tscharke from Australia.

Men’s class 8-10 reigning champion Ross Wilson starts the defence of his title against Alabi Olabiyi Olufemi from Nigeria before taking on Ma Lin, the Chinese born former men’s class 9 World and Paralympic champion from Australia. He plays his final match in Group 1 against Asad Hussain Syed from Canada. Number two seed Joshua Stacey starts against Chao Ming Chee from Malaysia and will then take on Tajudeen Agunbiade from Nigeria followed by Panteleimon Kailis from Cyprus.

Jack Hunter-Spivey is number one seed in men’s class 3-5 and has been drawn to play Junjian Chen from Australia followed by Nasiru Sule from Nigeria and then Muhammad Mudassar from Canada. Dan Bullen starts against Isau Ogunkunle from Nigeria followed by George Wyndham from Sierra Leone with his final match in Group 2 against Raj Aravindan Alagar from India.

The group matches will be played on Wednesday, August 3 and Thursday, August 4 with the top two from each group progressing to the semi-finals on Friday, August 5.