The 2025 WTT Doha Star Challenge has come to a successful conclusion. The final three events were fiercely contested, with the mixed doubles match going all the way to the decisive game, where Huang Youzheng/Shi Xunyao narrowly lost 2-3 to Matsushima Kakeru/Zhang Ben Meihui. Both singles finals ended quickly, with Kuai Man sweeping Miharu Kihara 4-0 and Zhang Ben Zhizhe defeating Groth 4-0.
Japan emerged victorious with three championships, while the Chinese national team secured two titles. This is an impressive achievement, considering that non-mainstream players were participating. The most significant victory was Kuai Man's women's singles title, which led to the emergence of four winners and five losers in this competition.
Winner One: Zhang Ben Zhizhe
Zhang Ben Zhizhe was in excellent form throughout the tournament, reaching the finals in both men's doubles and singles. Although he lost in the men's doubles final to the Chinese team, he dominated the singles event, sweeping his opponents in both the semifinals and finals. Despite the absence of top Chinese players and European competitors, this championship provided him with significant motivation and inspiration. His consistent performance, reduced errors, and improved offensive and defensive capabilities were evident.
Winner Two: Matsushima Kakeru
Matsushima Kakeru had an outstanding overall performance, participating in three events and winning the mixed doubles title, finishing as runner-up in men's doubles, and reaching the quarterfinals in men's singles before losing to Zhang Ben Zhizhe. His strong doubles skills were on display, and he demonstrated his ability to stand out among young players with his calm demeanor and exceptional technical abilities.
Winner Three: Kuai Man
Although Kuai Man exited early in the mixed doubles and women's doubles, she achieved a high-value women's singles title. She mentioned in an interview that her doubles performance was not good, so she focused on singles. Her partnership with Xiang Peng in mixed doubles was their first time playing together, and the loss was expected. In women's doubles, they did not perform well. However, in women's singles, she was not favored before the tournament, not being a seeded player, and facing Japanese mainstays. Kuai Man's performance steadily improved, culminating in a powerful breakout in the semifinals and finals, showcasing her stable rhythm and technical growth.
Winner Four: Miharu Kihara
Despite being swept by Kuai Man in the women's singles final, Miharu Kihara's ability to reach the final itself made her a winner. It was her first time reaching the women's singles final in a star challenge, an achievement that was not expected given her recent form. She had fallen out of the Japanese main squad but managed to break through, potentially earning her a spot back in the main lineup. Overall, Miharu Kihara's lack of stability and adaptability were evident in the final, but when in form, she can be a formidable opponent.
Loser One: Zhang Ben Meihui
Zhang Ben Meihui, despite winning the mixed doubles title, suffered early exits in women's singles and doubles. As the second seed in women's singles, with the Chinese main team absent, this was an opportunity for her to claim the championship. However, she lost to the relatively unremarkable Orawan, which was unexpected. This serves as a learning experience for her.
Loser Two: Hina Hayata
Hina Hayata, the top seed in the Japanese women's singles and a strong contender for the title, only managed to play two matches before being eliminated in the second round. While still recovering, her lack of initiative and consistency in rallies were noticeable, despite her direct attacking style.
Loser Three: Tianyi Qian
Tianyi Qian competed in women's doubles and singles, reaching the semifinals in doubles with Shi Xunyao but ultimately losing to the Japanese pair. In singles, she was considered a strong contender for the title, especially after several Japanese mainstays were eliminated. However, she failed to reach the semifinals in both events. Currently ranked fifth among Chinese women's singles players, missing out on points to improve her world ranking was a significant setback.
Loser Four: Miyu Hirano
Miyu Hirano suffered a first-round exit in women's singles, losing 0-3 to non-mainstream Chinese player Shi Xunyao. This disappointing result leaves her in an awkward position within the Japanese women's singles lineup, having fallen to fifth in the world rankings. This early defeat means she will miss out on the championship event, as only the top four players from each association are eligible to participate. She needs to accumulate more points to improve her standing.
Loser Five: South Korean Team
The South Korean team left the competition empty-handed, failing to reach any finals across the five events. Only the women's doubles pair of Yoo Bin Yoon/Kyum Yun Kim and the mixed doubles pair of Daecheng Zhao/Yubin Shen reached the semifinals, where they lost to non-mainstream Chinese players. In singles, only one male and one female player reached the quarterfinals, with the seeded players being eliminated early. Overall, the South Korean team's performance was not up to expectations.
