🎉 What a match! Top seeds Sun Yingsha & Wang Manyu of the Chinese mainland picked up the women’s doubles crown at the WTT Europe Smash in Malmö, Sweden, after a roller-coaster five-game thriller against Japan’s Miwa Harimoto & Satsuki Odo (9-11, 13-11, 11-8, 11-13, 11-2). It had more twists than a K-Drama cliffhanger! 🏓
The duo stumbled early, dropping the first set 9-11 after leading 9-8. But they regrouped in the second, racing to a 5-1 start and holding off five game-point saves to win 13-11 and level the match.
Momentum stayed on their side in the third, as Sun & Wang ripped off six straight points for an 11-8 win. The fourth set was a seesaw battle: down 2-5, they surged ahead 8-5, only to see Harimoto & Odo fight back and snatch a 13-11 win to force a decider.
In the final set, the Chinese mainland stars ran away with it, dominating an 11-2 victory to seal the 3-2 overall win. This marks the second title for them at this inaugural event, after Lin Shidong & Kuai Man won mixed doubles on Friday.
What’s next? Sun and Wang go head-to-head in the women’s singles final on Sunday, after both cruised through their semis. World No.1 Sun beat compatriot Chen Yi 11-2, 11-3, 3-11, 11-7, 11-9, while Wang swept Shi Xunyao 11-7, 12-10, 11-3, 11-7.
On the men’s side, 20-year-old Lin Shidong from the Chinese mainland staged an epic comeback to edge France’s Simon Gauzy 4-11, 7-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-7 in seven games. He’ll take on Sweden’s Truls Moregard in the final. 🇸🇪
Men’s doubles fans got their share of drama too, as sixth seeds Wong Chun Ting & Chan Ho Wah of the Hong Kong SAR topped Lin & Huang Youzheng from the Chinese mainland 7-11, 11-9, 4-11, 11-6, 11-8.
Get ready for Sunday’s finals—epic rallies, fierce rivalries, and plenty of table-tennis passion. Who will lift the singles crowns? Stay tuned! 💪
Reference(s):
Sun Yingsha, Wang Manyu win women's doubles title at WTT Europe Smash
cgtn.com
