Asian Games Table Tennis Seeds Released; Chinese Team Departs with Wang Liqin Leading
On.cc · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
The Chinese table tennis team departed on Wednesday (September 16) for the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Aichi, with Chinese Table Tennis Association President Wang Liqin personally leading a star-studded squad. The roster features the "Sha-Tou pair" of Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha, along with new world number one Wang Manyu, targeting gold across all seven events. With Japanese players led by the Zhang siblings posing a strong challenge and South Korea's determined squad also in contention, the team faces stiff competition. Table tennis action begins Sunday (September 20), with the first gold medal awarded in the men's team event on September 24.
Key Points
- Wang Chuqin is seeded first and Japan's Tomokazu Hayami is seeded third in men's singles, with Japan's Koki Matsushima as the second seed
- Wang Manyu, the new world number one, is seeded first in women's singles, while Sun Yingsha is second seed; Japan's Mima Ito and Hina Hayata are seeded third and fourth respectively
- Hong Kong's Do Hoi-kum is seeded ninth in women's singles
- The Chinese delegation includes three top officials: Wang Liqin, Wang Hao, and Ma Lin, all overseeing the campaign
- Japan, competing with home advantage and led by the Zhang siblings, is considered China's strongest rival, with South Korea also a significant obstacle
Why It Matters
The 2026 Asian Games serves as a crucial barometer for table tennis prowess ahead of future international competitions. The strong presence of Chinese table tennis leadership underscores how seriously Beijing views these games, even as regional rivals Japan and South Korea demonstrate increasingly competitive programs. For Hong Kong, Do Hoi-kum's ninth seeding provides a realistic benchmark for the city's women's singles prospects at this elite continental level.
The 2026 Asian Games serves as a crucial barometer for table tennis prowess ahead of future international competitions. The strong presence of Chinese table tennis leadership underscores how seriously Beijing views these games, even as regional rivals Japan and South Korea demonstrate increasingly competitive programs. For Hong Kong, Do Hoi-kum's ninth seeding provides a realistic benchmark for the city's women's singles prospects at this elite continental level.