ARTS / CULTURE & LEISURE
China’s top-ranking paddlers power through WTT Singapore Smash
Published: Feb 04, 2025 11:49 PM
Chinese table tennis player Wang Chuqin competes in the World Table Tennis Singapore Smash against Singapore's Pang Koen on February 4, 2025 in Singapore. Wang advanced to the last 16 after winning 11-7, 11-7, 11-8. (See story on Page 15) Photo: VCG

Chinese table tennis player Wang Chuqin competes in the World Table Tennis Singapore Smash against Singapore's Pang Koen on February 4, 2025 in Singapore. Wang advanced to the last 16 after winning 11-7, 11-7, 11-8.  Photo: VCG
 


On Tuesday at the ongoing World Table Tennis Singapore Smash, China's No.1 world ranking paddler Wang Chuqin outdid Singaporean player Pang Koen to advance to the round of 16. On Monday, his victory was followed by that of his peers Sun Yingsha and Lin Shidong, who powered through to WTT's round of 32, showcasing Chinese athletes' "good momentum" at the WTT competition, sports commentator Qiu Junfei told the Global Times.  

As one of China's most experienced table tennis athletes, Wang Chuqin won his match relatively easily with a 3-0 victory. Earlier on Tuesday in the women's singles competition, another athlete Wang Manyu had to fight hard to competitor Chien Tung-Chuan, a paddler from the island of Taiwan, to win the first match 14-12. After losing the second 8-11, she made quick adjustments, which led to her winning the next two matches and allowed her to enter the round of 16. 

Prior to their resilient performances during the matches, on Monday, top-seeded Chinese player Sun Yingsha and second-seeded Lin Shidong both dominated their opponents and advanced to the round of 32 with 3-0 victories. Their successes mark Team China's first two victories at the 2025 WTT Singapore Smash. 

In the men's singles competition, Lin, a 19-year-old rising star secured a confident 3-0 win over China's Hong Kong player Wong Chun-Ting. Despite a slow start during which Lin trailed 1-3 in the first game, he quickly regained his pace, turning the tide with an 11-4 victory. The young and currently World No.2 paddler closed out the match after continually winning the remaining games 11-6 and 11-5. 

In a post-match interview, Lin said that he was "a bit of nervous" throughout the game and had to try to get the "feeling of competition," especially after a period of training and making adjustments. Noting he will compete a total of three events at the WTT Singapore Smash 2025, the young star said that he will "focus on balancing his energy and physicality" for upcoming competitions. 

Noting Lin is a padder with huge potential, sports commentator Luo Le told the Global Times that competing with different global players is a "must" for young athletes like Lin to know themselves and advance faster. 

Sun faced South Korean player Suh Hyo-Won during the women's singles competition on Monday. Sun took control right at the start, winning the first two matches 11-3. She then wrapped up the match with an 11-7 in the third, securing a 3-0 victory.  

"I feel I'm in good mental and physical condition after the winter training," said Sun. She also stressed her dedication to preparing for her next match.

Sun was among several key figures in Chinese table tennis such as President of the Chinese Table Tennis Association Liu Guoliang and Wang to provide proposals to the WTT, the commercial and events company of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), prior to the main draw of the game.  

In a recent discussion with the ITTF and the core WTT team, Liu proposed abolishing WTT's mandatory participation policy. He noted that compulsory participation "creates significant psychological and physical pressure for athletes."  This suggestion was made after stellar Chinese paddler Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng withdrew from the WTT world rankings due to WTT's compulsory attendance regulation. 

The WTT Singapore Smash 2025 is scheduled to end on Sunday, a total of 15 Chinese paddlers have joined the game.