Czech Republic Shock Japan To Reach World Junior Team Quarter-Finals

Czech Republic are through to the quarter-finals of the World Junior Team Championships for just the second time in their history after the men's No.12 seeds took out 7th seeds Japan at Black Ball Sporting Club in Cairo.

Meanwhile, in the women's event, Australia battled back from a match down to defeat local rivals New Zealand to ensure a return to the last eight after missing out last year.

Competing in the men's event for just the third time, and the first since 2018, Czechia came into the tie against Japan as the underdogs, but fought tirelessly for every point in a pulsating encounter.

Czech No.1 Martin Stepan found himself match ball down in game four against Ren Makino, but dug in desperately to eventually prevail 8-11, 11-5, 10-12, 12-10, 11-5 and give his side the lead.

In another huge five gamer, Vojtech Martinovsky then recovered from a game down to get the better of Shunsaku Kariyazono 3-11, 11-4, 11-3, 5-11, 11-8 in an epic.

The No.12 seeds will take on defending champions Egypt in the quarter-finals, with the top seeds receiving a bye after topping their group.

Afterwards, Czechia coach Jan Břeň said: "We came in as the No.12 seeds but we all believed that we could be in the top eight. It was really hard for us but we're so happy to do it. I was a little nervous, but they are fighters. They fought much better than yesterday [a 3-0 defeat to Republic of Korea] and I'm so proud of them."

Czechia weren't the only side to take down higher-seeded opponents, with France's redemption continuing as the No.9 seeds beat No.8 seeds Hong Kong.

France had gone to the brink of crashing out of the competition after a shock defeat to Brazil on day one of the Group stage, but fired back with a win against group toppers Pakistan.

The No.9 seeds carried this momentum through to the knockout stage, with Amir Khaled-Jousselin and Axel Daujon delivering 3/0 wins over Tsun Hei Mak and Long Hin Larry Wong either side of a 3/1 defeat for Thomas Garcia against Justin Cheng.

France will go up against No.2 seeds USA as they aim to reach the semi-finals for the first time in 25 years.

In the women's event, it was the last day of Group stage action as the quarter-finalists were confirmed.

While all ties went to seedings, three-time champions and No.8 seeds Australia were given an almighty scare by local rivals and No.9 seeds New Zealand in a tie to decide who would finish runner up in Group A and progress through to the last eight.

New Zealand took the lead via Ella Hill, with the Kiwi striking back from a game down to clinch a 3/1 lead over Emily Lamb, with that last game a brutal 15-13 tie-break win.

Things got worse for the No.8 seeds when New Zealand's Anabel Romero Gemmell took a 2/0 lead in match two, only to come undone by a valiant comeback from Joanne Joseph, who eked out 11-9, 12-10, 11-8 wins to level.

New Zealand took the lead twice more as Mackenzie Tait took game one and three 11-9 after Sarbani Maitra had taken game two 15-13, but Maitra was able to hit back again, scoring a pair of 11-6 wins to get the crucial third match for Australia.

Australia will face No.2 seeds Hong Kong in the quarter-finals.