Latest news with #TableTennis
South China Morning Post
01-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
China's Fan Zhendong signs Bundesliga deal, official calls it ‘huge moment for table tennis'
Chinese star Fan Zhendong is set to return to action at club level after signing for German outfit 1. FC Saarbrücken to play in the Table Tennis Bundesliga. In a statement released on the club's website on Sunday, Fan said he could not wait for the new season to start. The Olympic champion, who has withdrawn from International Table Tennis Federation events in a row over rankings, has largely been out of action since winning gold in Paris last summer, playing only in national championships and the Chinese Table Tennis Super League. 'I'm really looking forward to the new challenge in Saarbrucken and in the TTBL,' Fan told his new club's website. 'I'm really excited to be part of this club, get to know a new environment – and celebrate many successes together with the team.' Nicolas Barrois, the Saarbruken general manager, said bringing the three-time Olympic gold medallist to the club, who finished third in the TTBL last season, was an unbelievable opportunity. Sweden's Truls Moregard is also part of the Saarbrucken team. Photo: AFP 'It happened so fast, so much so that we still find it difficult to believe it 100 per cent, but it's real,' he said. 'It wasn't just a milestone in terms of competition, it's also a huge moment for our club and table tennis in Germany and Europe.'
South China Morning Post
25-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Wang beats Calderano to avenge World Cup loss, Sun makes it double gold for China
China swept the singles titles at the ITT World Table Tennis Championships again, with Wang Chuqin securing a dominant 4-1 victory over Hugo Calderano in the men's final and Sun Yingsha retaining the women's crown on Sunday. World No 1 Sun overcame a stubborn challenge from compatriot Wang Manyu, outwitting the world No 2 in a thrilling final to clinch gold with a 4-3 victory in Doha. Former champion Manyu, who beat Sun in the 2021 final, fought back from two games down and saved four championship points to take the contest down to the wire. 'We have played each other many times since childhood. So every time we meet in the finals, it would be a tough match,' Sun said. The 24-year-old started well, winning the first two games 11-6 12-10. Manyu bounced back to dominate the next two games, and was a point away from winning the fifth but Sun saved the game point and took it 12-10. Sun Yingsha in action against compatriot Wang Manyu. Photo: EPA-EFE Sun quickly took a 10-6 lead in the sixth game, putting her a point away from winning the championship, but Manyu held her nerve to win the next three points.
South China Morning Post
19-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Chinese fans, media query empty seats at ‘sold-out' ITTF World Table Tennis Championships
Chinese media outlets have queried the ticket sales at the supposedly sold-out ITTF World Table Tennis Championships in Doha after some poorly attended matches during the opening weekend. Advertisement Banks of empty seats were seen at Lusail Sports Arena and Qatar University for a large number of matches, although fans did show up at the multipurpose hall in Lusail when China's Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha beat Liang Jishan and Amy Wang of the United States in their mixed doubles match on Sunday. In other matches, including when French duo Simon Gauzy and Prithika Pavade overcame German pair Patrick Franziska and Annett Kaufmann at Lusail on Sunday afternoon, hardly any seats were filled at the 15,300-seat arena. Scenes on the opening two days of the nine-day tournament were in stark contrast to Petra Sorling's claim earlier this month that all the tickets at the World Championships had sold out – the ITTF president had said she was 'shocked', suggesting it was a rare occurrence for sports events held in the Middle East. Chinese fans did show up to watch China's mixed doubles pair of Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha. Photo: WTT 'This was a unique phenomenon, we hope to study the causes further,' said the 54-year-old Swede. Advertisement
South China Morning Post
13-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong youngster Baldwin Chan to help ease workload at World Table Tennis Championships
Hong Kong will go into the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships starting in Qatar on Saturday boasting a broader range of options, with Baldwin Chan Ho-wah carrying much of the team's hopes – and workload – on his young shoulders. Advertisement For the first time since her tournament debut in Paris in 2013, Doo Hoi-kem will not have to play in all three categories and can focus on a slightly reduced workload of singles and mixed doubles. Her mixed doubles partner Wong Chun-ting will have his third men's doubles partner in Chan, and with the World Championships debutant shouldering two doubles events and the men's singles in Doha, the 21-year-old was at the centre of most conversations. 'He's a young player with potential,' the 34-year-old Wong said. 'He's fast, and as a left-hander, gives us some advantage in the doubles. 'I hope to give him some new perspectives [as a partner] to help him in singles, and I hope we can provide a new spark.' Doo Hoi-kem (left) and Wong Chun-ting hope to improve on the bronze medals they have won. Photo: HKCTTA Wong said the pair had a decent draw, with the first hurdle expected at the round of 16, when they potentially face Florian Bourrassaud and Esteban Dorr of France.
The Herald Scotland
29-04-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
First ever National Exhibition Event for SDS to take place
The event will bring together people with disabilities, community organisations, Sport Governing Bodies, ParalympicsGB, Third Sector organisations and education partners from across Scotland, as well as representatives from the Scottish Government. Paralympians including Stephen McGuire will also be in attendance and there will be opportunities to take the Paris 2024 gold medallist on in his sport of Boccia. Others including Table Tennis star Martin Perry and Boccia's Kayleigh Brown. Read More The event is supported by the Motability Scheme and also offers opportunities for those in attendance to try out other sports, meet local support teams and engage in workshops on inclusion in sport. Physical inactivity continues to disproportionately affect people with a disability and the National Exhibition Event will provide an opportunity to showcase inclusive progress and community empowerment. At least eight different sports will be available to try while there will also be an all-ability health walk, a parkrun, adaptive bikes and introductory fitness classes on the day. For more event information and to register your initial interest, please visit JustGo.
