Wang Manyu Reaches Women's Singles Final at WTT China Grand Slam
Crhk · 3 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Top seed Wang Manyu of China has secured a place in the women's singles final at the World Table Tennis China Grand Slam. The national team ace defeated Japan's top player Tomoka Harimoto 4-1 in the semifinals on Saturday, winning 11-8, 11-7, 7-11, 11-5, and 11-8 . Wang will face another Japanese player, Sato Hitomi, in the championship match after Sato eliminated China's seventh seed Chen Xingtong in a stunning upset .
Key Points
- Wang Manyu dominated the first two games against Harimoto with scores of 11-8 and 11-7 . Harimoto mounted a comeback in the third game with aggressive play, winning 11-7, but Wang regained control to win the next two games 11-5 and 11-8 . In the quarterfinals, Wang had earlier swept South Korea's Shin Yu-bin 4-0 in under 30 minutes with scores of 11-8, 11-7, 11-3, and 11-9 .
- Sato Hitomi shocked the tournament by defeating Chen Xingtong 4-1 in the other semifinal . After Chen won the opening game 11-2, Sato's defensive counterattacking style completely neutralized Chen's attacks, winning four consecutive games 8-11, 7-11, 9-11, and 8-11 .
- In quarterfinal action, third seed Harimoto came from behind to defeat China's Wang Yidi 4-2, losing the first two games 9-11 before winning four straight games 11-6, 11-5, 11-9, and 11-9 . Chen Xingtong also staged a comeback, defeating Japan's defensive specialist Hashimoto Honoka 4-2 after losing the first two games 5-11 and 8-11 .
- Sato Hitomi advanced to the semifinals by defeating China's Zhu Sibing 4-1 in the quarterfinals . Earlier in the tournament, South Korean pair Lin Jong-hun and Shin Yu-bin won the mixed doubles championship .
- The women's singles final between Wang Manyu and Sato Hitomi is scheduled for Sunday in China .
Why It Matters
The tournament showcases the rising competitiveness of Japanese women's table tennis, with two Japanese players reaching the final and eliminating higher-seeded Chinese opponents . For Hong Kong fans, the final represents a high-stakes match between an established Chinese powerhouse and an emerging Japanese talent whose defensive style has proven effective against aggressive opponents .
The tournament showcases the rising competitiveness of Japanese women's table tennis, with two Japanese players reaching the final and eliminating higher-seeded Chinese opponents . For Hong Kong fans, the final represents a high-stakes match between an established Chinese powerhouse and an emerging Japanese talent whose defensive style has proven effective against aggressive opponents .