Chinese athletes showcased their table tennis prowess at the World Table Tennis (WTT) China Smash in Beijing this week, with world No. 1 Wang Chuqin leading the charge. On Thursday, Wang defeated South Korea's An Jae-hyun in straight games (11-9, 11-4, 11-7), demonstrating why he remains the sport's top-ranked player. The match saw a tense first-game comeback attempt by An before Wang's clinical finish set the tone for the rest of the contest.
In women's singles, second-seeded Wang Manyu dominated Japan's Hina Hayata 11-6, 11-4, 11-5. 'I focused on executing my tactics rather than watching the score,' the 26-year-old told reporters after securing her quarterfinal berth. She now faces Japan's rising star Miwa Harimoto in what promises to be a thrilling clash of generations.
The mixed doubles semifinals delivered high drama as Huang Youzheng and Chen Yi overcame compatriots Yuan Licen and Wang Yidi 3-1. After splitting the first two games, Huang and Chen sealed their victory through decisive timeouts and strategic play. They advance to face top seeds Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha in a final that could see China sweep multiple titles at this prestigious event.
