Malta’s three representatives at the world championships being held in Croatia this week, have been eliminated.

Simon Gerada and Mario Genovese took part in the Men’s Singles. Edward Baldacchino was unavailable. Johanna Grech took part in the women’s singles event.

Taking part in preliminary group 19, Mario Genovese played against Albania’s Ilir Shabani and France’s Emmanuel Lebesson. He lost both matches.

Against Shabani, Genovese won the first set 11-5, but then lost four sets in succession. Against Lebesson, the former Malta champion lost 4-0 in straight sets.

Simon Gerada managed to qualify from the qualifying round, after winning his first two matches. He was drawn in Group 48 which also included Al-Gaedy Nayef of Saudi Arabia and Viktors Tolkachev of Latvia.

Gerada beat the Latvian boy 4-2 in his opening match and then went on to defeat the Saudi Arabian participant by the same scoreline in his second match.

He was then eliminated in the next round by a Chilean opponent.

Veteran Johanna Grech lost her two matches in Group 17 in the women’s singles qualifying round.

She lost 4-0 to Sun Yang of New Zealand and 4-0 to Marta Golota of Poland.