Three Chinese table tennis stars secured their spots in the women's singles round of 16 at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Europe Smash in Malmö, Sweden, on Wednesday, showcasing skill and resilience in a series of gripping matches.
Top seed Sun Yingsha overcame a spirited challenge from France's Jia Nan Yuan, rallying after a second-game setback to win 3-1. The 23-year-old Olympic gold medalist adapted swiftly to her opponent's high-toss serves following strategic coaching input, sealing victory with an 11-6 fourth-game finish. Sun now prepares to face Japan's Hina Hayata in a highly anticipated clash.
Chen Xingtong demonstrated mental fortitude against France's rising star Prithika Pavade, recovering from an initial 11-8 loss to dominate subsequent games. The match reached its climax in the fourth game when Chen erased a 10-8 deficit with four consecutive points, securing her quarterfinal berth against Germany's Sabine Winter.
Chen Yi delivered a masterclass in precision against South Korea's Joo Cheon-hui, winning all three tightly contested games through clutch performances at critical moments. Her next challenge comes from Brazil's Bruna Takahashi.
In doubles action, Sun partnered with Wang Manyu to sweep their women's doubles match against Germany's Xiaona Shan and Ng Wing Lam of China's Hong Kong SAR. The mixed doubles pair Lin Shidong and Kuai Man advanced to the semifinals after defeating Lin Yun-Ju and Cheng I-Ching of Chinese Taipei in straight games.
