Smith will be regarded as one of the favourites for the gold, but now must rely on beating Croatia's Martin Frkovic.

Dutch player Daniel Perez defeated Denmark's Daniel Qvist to top Pool B, and Russian Mikhail Gutnik defeated Ivannh Mitory of France in Pool C.

Wins elsewhere in the men's BC1 went to Slovakia's Tomas Kral who smashed Roman Sajdak of Czech Republic 17-0 and Andre Ramos of Portugal who prevailed 9-1 against Diego Gilli of Italy.

Spain's Amagoia Arrieta won 8-3 in her women's BC1 opener, beating Anne Walter of Germany, and Czech player Katerina Curinova defeated Israel's Bat-El Brightman-Ha'Cohen 7-0.

Elsewhere in the category, Poland's Kinga Koza won by a narrow 3-2 margin over Simona Blazkova of Czech Republic, and Rita Patricio of Portugal defeated Ukraine's Yana Pielykh 5-2.

Qualifiers were determined in the women's BC2, with Claire Taggart of Britain and Kristina Kudlacova of Slovakia winning both their matches to progress, but still need to face each other for the top position.

In the women's BC3, Maria Bjurstrom of Sweden started well as one of the favourites with a 7-1 victory over Germany's Christine Fink, while Poland's Edyta Owczarz started similarly strongly with a 6-2 win against Iuliia Plakuta of Russia.

France's Sonia Heckel defeated Britain's Bethany Moulam 4-1 in Pool C, while Greece's Anna Ntenta beat Spain's Veronica Pamies 10-0 in Pool D.

Favourite in the women's BC4 is mixed pairs Paralympic champion Michaela Balcova, who started her campaign with a 15-0 drubbing of Spain's Sara Aller Mayo.

Portuguese player Carla Oliveira won 11-0 against Anamarija Arambasic of Croatia, while Greece's Chrysi Morfi Metzou was a 9-0 victor over Natasa Bartol of Slovenia.

In the absence of Paralympic champion Samuel Andrejčík of Slovakia, Britain's Stephen McGuire will fancy his chances at men's BC4 gold following a 9-1 opening win over Ondrej Kaas of the Czech Republic.

Damir Juren of Croatia caused an upset against Germany's Boris Nicolai beating him by a 3-2 margin.

Czech Republic's world number one Adam Peška started with a 5-1 victory over Belgium's Arno van Praet in the men's BC3, while world number two Greece's Grigorios Polychronidis defeated German Thomas Knoth 9-2.

Finally, The Netherlands' Marco Dekker provided an upset in the men's BC2 after he handed Dmitry Kozmin of Russia a 7-4 defeat, but he was later beaten by Britain's Will Hipwell 4-1.

Another favourite, Portugal's Abilio Valente, lost too, going down 7-4 to Italy's Ciro Montanino.