China's top-ranked table tennis players showcased their dominance at the Singapore Smash this week, with world No. 1 Wang Chuqin and fourth-seeded Liang Jingkun securing hard-fought victories in the men's singles competition. Wang overcame a spirited challenge from Singapore's Koen Pang (world No. 142), winning 3-0 despite facing tougher resistance in later sets.
The spotlight turned to Liang's thrilling comeback against German veteran Dimitrij Ovtcharov, where he rallied from two sets down to claim victory 3-2. "Every match here demands absolute focus," Liang remarked post-match, highlighting the tournament's competitive intensity.
On the women's side, fourth-seeded Chen Xingtong breezed past Portugal's Shao Jieni 3-0, while second-seeded Wang Manyu secured her last-16 spot by defeating Chien Tung-Chuan of the Chinese Taipei team 3-1. The event continues to highlight China's table tennis strength, with all eyes on potential quarterfinal clashes.
Next rounds promise high-stakes rematches, including Wang Chuqin facing Sweden's Anton Kallberg – who defeated him in their 2023 Frankfurt encounter. "I'll study his tactics and stay prepared," Wang told reporters, signaling intense preparations ahead.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
