On January 10, 2025, the Doha Star Table Tennis Tournament continued, and good news came from the women's singles event for the national table tennis team. The 20-year-old young player Chen Yi caused an upset by eliminating Japanese star Hina Hayata with a score of 3-2. It is not easy to defeat the top seed in the women's singles event, and Chen Yi's advancement to the quarter-finals is something to celebrate.
Chen Yi, a young player on the national table tennis team, is only 20 years old and ranked 39th in the world. She and Kuai Man are teammates from the same batch, and she has performed outstandingly during her youth, winning many championships. However, she was unable to make it to a higher stage later on, making it difficult for her to participate in events with higher points, which is somewhat regrettable. But being young means there is great potential for growth, and opportunities are there for the taking. External competitions are undoubtedly the best test.
It is worth mentioning that Chen Yi registered for three events, partnering with Kuai Man in women's doubles and Chen Yuanyu in mixed doubles, both of which have been eliminated. She focused her attention on the singles court, facing Japanese star Hina Hayata, which was a severe challenge. In the absence of the main players of the national table tennis team, Hina Hayata naturally became the top seed. Despite the significant difference in personal achievements, Chen Yi was not intimidated and fought bravely, ultimately bringing an unexpected surprise.
Hina Hayata is the highest-ranked player on the Japanese women's team, currently ranked 5th. She has defeated national table tennis players many times, won bronze in the World Table Tennis Championships singles and silver in the Asian Games singles. Additionally, she has partnered with Tomokazu Harimoto and Mima Ito to achieve results in doubles at major events. She can be said to be a very versatile player. Although Hina Hayata is not in her best form recently, she still holds an advantage against Chen Yi.
After the start of the match, Chen Yi had a good momentum in the first game, and even Hina Hayata could not hold her own, having no way to deal with the young Chinese player. Chen Yi took the lead with an 11-4 victory. In the second game, Hina Hayata's state improved, and Chen Yi maintained her composure and actively engaged in the game. The two played back and forth, with neither able to take the lead. At the end of the game, Chen Yi's lack of experience led to unnecessary mistakes in receiving serves, and she was defeated 11-9 by Hina Hayata.
In the third game, Chen Yi fought more and more bravely, producing high-quality attacks in mid-to-long-range rallies, while also being more delicate at close range than her opponent. Hina Hayata felt helpless, and Chen Yi responded with an 11-6 victory. In the fourth game, Chen Yi led 4-0, and Hina Hayata called a timeout. After the break, Chen Yi's mentality fluctuated, and she suddenly "disconnected," which was particularly regrettable. Hina Hayata held on under pressure and won the game 12-10.
The decisive game could only be a do-or-die battle, and Chen Yi performed better, ending the game with an 11-7 victory. Ultimately, she eliminated Hina Hayata 3-2. This victory was really hard-won and crucial for Chen Yi personally. It is believed that this young player will continue to improve, and this is just the beginning.