China's Yan An was hoping to reclaim his ITTF Hungarian Open title but he has failed to reach the main draw in the men's singles event ©ITTF/Richard Kalocsai

Former winners Yan An of China and Daniel Habesohn of Austria have both failed to make the men's singles main draw at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Hungarian Open after losing their third round preliminary matches at the Budapest Olympic Hall today.

Yan, the 2017 champion, was beaten 9-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-6, 9-11, 6-11 by France’s Emmanuel Lebesson, while Habesohn, the 2014 champion, lost 7-11, 8-11, 11-9, 3-11, 11-9, 11-6, 8-11 to Belgium’s Florent Lambiet.

There were mixed fortunes for Lebesson and Lambiet in the fourth and final preliminary round with the former defeating Czech Republic’s David Reitspies 11-8, 11-5, 13-11, 7-11, 11-4 and the latter falling to a 10-12, 7-11, 8-11, 11-13 loss to Sweden’s Truls Moregard.

Awaiting Lebesson, who was crowned European champion in Budapest in 2016, in the first round of the main draw is Hong Kong’s Wong Chun Ting. 

"This city is very special for me," the Frenchman said.

"I was European champion here and it seems as though I am in good form whenever I come here."

In the women’s singles event, there was disappointment for Austria’s Liu Jia as the 2014 champion was forced to pull out of her second round preliminary contest against China’s Sun Mingyang due to injury.

Liu had lost the first game 2-11 before withdrawing. 

India's Manika Batra was among the players to reach the main draw in the women's singles event ©ITTF/Richard Kalocsai
India's Manika Batra was among the players to reach the main draw in the women's singles event ©ITTF/Richard Kalocsai

Sun went onto overcome Hong Kong’s Soo Wai Yam Minnie 9-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 11-5 in preliminary round three to book her place in the main draw.

Her opponent in the last-32 opponent will be Canada’s Zhang Mo.

Among the other players securing their place in the women’s singles main draw was Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Manika Batra.

The Indian beat Spain’s Galia Dvorak 10-12, 13-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-6 in preliminary round two before defeating Romania’s Daniela Monteiro Dodean 8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 10-12, 11-4, 9-11, 11-7 in preliminary round three.

Elsewhere, world number 498 Aneta Maksuti’s hopes of reaching the main draw were ended by Germany’s Kristin Lang in preliminary round two.

The Serbian caused a major upset by defeating Hong Kong's Ng Wing Nam yesterday, but she lost 11-5, 11-7, 8-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-13, 13-15 today. 

Lang was then ousted by China’s He Zhuojia in preliminary round three, losing 9-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-8, 9-11, 4-11 and thus missing out on a place in the main draw.

Action in Budapest is due to continue tomorrow.