On January 8th, Beijing time, the main event of the 2025 WT Doha Star Games finally kicked off. In the previous qualifying rounds, the only loss for the national table tennis team came from Xu Yingbin in the men's singles, which was somewhat unexpected. Today's matches saw the first round of various events getting underway, with some male and female singles players receiving byes, while the rest made their debuts in the main event. It's an exciting day to look forward to!
In the men's singles arena, upsets abound, leaving spectators stunned. Polanski staged a thrilling comeback against Tomislav Pucar, winning 3-2 with scores of 7-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-7. As a capable player, Pucar's performance in the last three sets was unsatisfactory, with frequent mistakes. This match had everyone on the edge of their seats, and Polanski's comeback victory undoubtedly added a touch of drama to the competition.
Another remarkable comeback occurred with Yoshikazu Yoshikawa. Facing American player Kanak Jha, Yoshikawa found himself down 0-2 but managed to win three consecutive sets, ultimately triumphing 3-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6, 12-10. In the decisive set, Yoshikawa clinched victory by a mere two points, demonstrating his indomitable competitive spirit. It was a heart-stopping match that showcased Yoshikawa's resilience and determination.
National table tennis youngster Chen Yuanyu also caused an upset in the men's singles, defeating Portuguese veteran Frederico Freitas 3-1. The match was fiercely contested, with Chen losing the first set 8-11 due to not being at his best. However, he gradually regained his form, narrowly winning the second set 11-9, before going on to secure the next two sets 11-6, 11-7, completing a stunning comeback. Chen's performance gave us a glimpse into the strength of the new generation of national table tennis players. He is truly a rising star with limitless potential!
In other men's singles matches, Kallberg defeated Flaviano Koti 3-1 with scores of 11-8, 11-6, 7-11, 11-6; Walther won 3-0 against Edward Ionascu; Yuta Tanaka overcame Kyung-Kai Hong 3-1; and Diogo Bochert triumphed 3-0 over Fanbo Meng. The intensity of these matches highlighted the infinite charm of table tennis. Each match was a dual test of the players' skills and psychology, making it a feast for the eyes.
In the first round of men's doubles, Tomokazu Harimoto/Koki Niwa defeated the cross-border pair of Kim Tae-Hoon/Pistey 3-1 with scores of 11-6, 5-11, 11-4, 11-8. Takahashi/Manav Thakkar won 3-0 against Al-Nasir/Kolani with scores of 11-5, 11-7, 11-5. Harimoto's debut performance was commendable, although his partnership with Niwa has average results. However, this time, whether in men's singles or doubles, they have become the biggest rivals for the national table tennis team. We must remain vigilant as the combination of Harimoto and Niwa may bring us more surprises in upcoming matches.
The mixed doubles competition was even more intense, with all three completed matches going to the decisive fifth set. Top seeds Wong Chun Ting/Doo Hoi Kem narrowly defeated the new Japanese pair of Yoshikawa/Oosawa 3-2 with scores of 10-12, 12-10, 9-11, 11-5, 11-5. The match was incredibly close, especially in the first three sets, where Wong/Doo played more steadily in the latter two sets, showcasing their strengths. Although the Japanese pair is formidable, they seemed to lack some cohesion. It was a thrilling encounter that revealed the endless possibilities in mixed doubles.
Robles/Xiao Yaoqi won 3-2 against Pitchford/Hess, with scores of 8-11, 12-10, 11-9, 4-11, 11-6. Aya/Mohammed also emerged victorious 3-2 against Hyun/Chi Minhyung, with scores of 11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-6. The tension in these matches had hearts racing. The intensity of the mixed doubles competition is breathtaking, with each match testing the players' coordination and technique to the utmost.
The national table tennis pair of Xiang Peng/Kuai Man suffered a crushing 0-3 defeat to South Korea's Jo Daeseong/Shin Yubin, with scores of 8-11, 8-11, 12-14. Although the scores were close in all three sets, the South Korean pair maintained the upper hand throughout. Both pairs were new partnerships, with Xiang rarely playing mixed doubles and Kuai's original partner being Lin Shidong. This attempt at a new pairing did not yield ideal results. Of course, one match loss does not negate everything; perhaps this could be a turning point for Kuai, otherwise, she might have to part ways with Lin. It's somewhat disappointing, but this is part of competitive sports, where there are always wins and losses, ups and downs.
As a newly crowned world champion, Kuai Man primarily relies on her mixed doubles achievements with Lin Shidong, and her singles abilities still require significant improvement. For her, this competition is both a challenge and an opportunity. We hope that Kuai can continue to progress in future matches and show an even better version of herself. It's exciting to anticipate her future, as Kuai's potential is limitless. If she can overcome difficulties and continuously improve, she will surely achieve even greater success in the future.