At the Asian Table Tennis Championships held in Astana, Kazakhstan, the Chinese women’s team, consisting of Sun Yingsha, Wang Yidi, and Chen Xingtong, faced a disappointing defeat against Japan on October 10th, losing 1-3 and missing out on the championship title. This marks the first time in 50 years since the 1974 Yokohama Championships that the Japanese team has triumphed over the Chinese women’s table tennis team in a major tournament. The atmosphere on the podium was somber, as the Chinese players exhibited clear signs of disappointment, with some angry fans even calling for head coach Ma Lin’s resignation. Shortly after, Sun Yingsha announced her withdrawal from the individual events of the championships to focus on her physical recovery.
According to reports from China News Weekly, the Japanese team was comprised of Miwa Harimoto, Miu Hirano, and Mizuki Matsumoto, with their top player Hina Hayata not participating in this event.
In the final match, Wang Yidi narrowly lost to Miwa Harimoto in the opening round with a score of 2-3. The second match saw Sun Yingsha, nicknamed the “Paddle of Steel,” dominate Mizuki Matsumoto with a decisive 3-0 victory thanks to her superior skills and experience. However, Chen Xingtong fell to Miu Hirano with a score of 1-3, and in a gripping fourth match, Sun Yingsha lost 2-3 to Miwa Harimoto, sealing the team’s fate with a total score of 1-3 in favor of Japan.
Post-match analysis suggested that the introduction of seamless balls by the International Table Tennis Federation posed challenges for the Chinese team. Compared to traditional stitched balls, the new 40mm+ seamless balls have more uniform roundness, greater elasticity, and improved spin capabilities. While they are more durable, they tend to create inconsistencies in the ball’s trajectory, leading to increased errors from the players.
In addition to the new ball technology, the conditions in Astana’s venue and the tables themselves drew criticism from fans, as many athletes expressed their dissatisfaction with the inadequate facilities.
Reports highlighted that, besides acclimating to the new tables and balls, the exhaustion of key players sparked considerable debate among fans. “Sun Yingsha is too tired,” some remarked. Data indicates that from the opening of the Paris Olympics on July 27 to the WTT Macau Championship, the WTT China Grand Slam, and then the Asian Championships, Sun has competed in 34 matches across 141 games over just 75 days, which has undoubtedly taken a toll on her stamina.
Sun Yingsha herself acknowledged the strain of frequent competitions post-Olympics, admitting that she has struggled to maintain systematic training, often only finding time for workouts between events to keep herself in shape.
In light of her experience, the Chinese team still chose to have Sun Yingsha lead their campaign at this Asian Championships. Following the Paris Olympics, Chen Meng, the women’s singles champion, opted for rest and recovery, while another leading player, Wang Manyu, withdrew before the tournament due to personal issues, leading to the final roster of Sun Yingsha, Wang Yidi, and Chen Xingtong.
After the team’s loss in the finals, Sun Yingsha decided to withdraw from the individual competition to focus on recovery and adjustment. She reported noticeable muscle fatigue in her arm post-match, which was confirmed by the medical team, leading her coach to support her decision to step back from the individual events.
