On Monday, December 1, the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup kicked off in Chengdu with hosts China making a statement, sweeping Egypt 8-0 in a display of power and precision.
The day began with Kuai Man and Lin Shidong dominating mixed doubles 11-3, 11-3, 11-7. World No. 1 Sun Yingsha followed up in women’s singles with a composed 11-4, 14-12, 11-4 win. Top-ranked Wang Chuqin wrapped up the whitewash by defeating Youssef Abdelaziz 11-5, 11-4 in men’s singles, underlining China’s depth across all disciplines.
Drama unfolded when the Republic of Korea faced Chinese Taipei in a tight battle. Lin Yun-ju and Cheng I-ching claimed the opening mixed doubles 12-10, 11-9, 11-9, but the ROK fought back by taking women’s singles, men’s singles and women’s doubles, leveling the tie at 6-6. In a nail-biting decider, Park Gang-hyeon and Oh Jun-sung edged out Lin and Kao Cheng-jui 11-9, 11-9 to seal an 8-6 victory.
Other early-round highlights included Germany overcoming France 8-4, Hong Kong SAR cruising past Chile 8-2, and Japan defeating India 8-4. With group stages underway, teams will regroup for another round of high-stakes matchups that promise more upsets and standout performances.
As the competition heats up, all eyes will be on Chengdu’s state-of-the-art venue and the quest for mixed team glory. Stay tuned for more action as the world’s best collide in this showcase of speed, strategy and global sportsmanship.
Reference(s):
Event hosts China thrash Egypt at ITTF Mixed Team World Cup in Chengdu
cgtn.com
