Chinese table tennis players asserted their dominance on the second day of the ITTF World Cup in China's Macao Special Administrative Region, securing eight wins out of nine matches during Tuesday's group stage clashes. The victories set the stage for high-stakes knockout round qualifiers as athletes vie for global supremacy.
World No. 1 men's singles player Lin Shidong led the charge with a decisive 4-0 victory against Australia's Hwan Bae, while teammate Wang Chuqin mirrored the score against Aditya Sareen. Wang now prepares for a pivotal Wednesday showdown with Croatia's Tomislav Pucar, who earlier defeated Sareen. "Expect fierce competition," Wang stated ahead of the critical match.
On the women's side, defending champion Sun Yingsha delivered a flawless 4-0 performance against Canada's Mo Zhang. Wang Manyu overcame Sweden's Linda Bergström 3-1 in a hard-fought battle, demonstrating resilience under pressure. Chen Xingtong, Lin Gaoyuan, Kuai Man, and Liang Jingkun also secured victories, though Wang Yidi fell 3-1 to France's Jianan Yuan in the day's lone setback for Chinese players.
Held from April 15-21, this year's ITTF World Cup features 48 male and 48 female competitors, revitalizing the historic tournament format after a three-year hiatus. The event underscores Asia's growing influence in global sports while offering investors insights into China's thriving athletic infrastructure.
