Pickard claims silver at the PTT Slovakia Open

Pickard won silver in the women’s class 6-7, joining Sue Gilroy and Megan Shackleton (women’s class 4-5), Jack Hunter-Spivey (men’s class 5), Billy Shilton (men’s class 8), Ashley Facey Thompson and Josh Stacey (men’s class 9-10) in taking silver.

David Wetherill and Martin Perry (men’s class 6) won bronze in their respective events.

Pickard, and her partner Maryna Lytovchenko, the class 6 World number three from Ukraine, beat the Australian/Hungarian team of Rebecca Julian and Dora Molnar 2-0, and followed that with a 2-0 win against the German team of class 6 World number six Stephanie Grebe and class 7 Bente Harenberg.

They had to settle for silver after losing their final match in the round-robin competition against top seeds Seong Ok Kim and Kunwoo Lee from Korea 2-0.

“This tournament has been a great learning experience,” said Pickard, “especially playing with Maryna.

“My level definitely improved in the team event and I hope to carry that on in Slovenia.”

Pickard was also drawn in a tough group and went out of the women’s class 6 singles after 3-0 losses to Lytovchenko and Korean World number seven KunWoo Lee, who went on to take gold and silver.

Pickard is again in action this week at the PTT Slovenian Open in Lasko, which started on Wednesday.