China's Table Tennis Team Ends 13-Day WTT Streak Without a Title
From September 9th to 21st, the Chinese table tennis team endured a challenging period, failing to win any of the ten individual titles contested across two WTT events in Zagreb and Ljubljana. Despite the presence of promising young players like Lin Shidong, Chen Yi, and Kuai Man, the team struggled to produce convincing performances. 
The best results for the Chinese team were a men’s doubles silver medal, a women’s doubles and mixed doubles semifinal appearance, and a quarterfinal finish in both men’s and women’s singles. Key results included:
- Men’s Singles Quarterfinals: Xiang Peng lost to Hugo Calderano (1-3)
- Women’s Singles Quarterfinals: Fan Shuhan lost to Hina Hayata (1-3) and Shi Xunyao lost to Zhu Yuling (0-3)
- Mixed Doubles Semifinals: Huang Youzheng/Chen Yi lost to Lim Jonghoon/Shin Yubin (0-3)
- Women’s Doubles Semifinals: Hayata Hina/harimoto Miwa defeated Chen Yi/Kuai Man (3-2)
- Men’s Doubles Final: Huang Youzheng/Wen Ruibo lost to Togami Shunsuke/Shinozuka Hiroto (2-3)
On the final day of the competition in Ljubljana, no Chinese players were in action. The schedule included:
- 17:00: Women’s Singles Semifinals (Shin Yubin vs. Zhu Yuling)
- 17:40: Men’s Singles Semifinals (Togo Daniel vs. Togami Shunsuke)
- 18:20: Women’s Singles Semifinals (Harimoto Miwa vs. Hayata Hina)
- 19:00: Men’s Singles Semifinals (Simon Gauzy vs. Hugo Calderano)
- 19:40: Mixed Doubles Final (Lim Jonghoon/Shin Yubin vs. Togo Daniel/Winter)
- 23:00: Women’s Singles Final
- 00:00 (+1): Men’s Singles Final
Fan Shuhan, a qualifier, garnered attention throughout the WTT Star Contender Ljubljana 2026. However, she faced a formidable opponent in Hayata Hina, losing in the quarterfinals (11-5, 11-4, 5-11, 11-6). 
Despite her world ranking of 181, Fan had a remarkable run from the qualifiers, defeating notable players like Kim Nayeong, Hitomi Sato, and the 4th seed Kuai Man. Yet, Hayata Hina proved unstoppable, allowing Fan to win only one game. 
Hayata Hina will face Harimoto Miwa in the semifinals, a rematch of their 2024 Ljubljana semifinal. Harimoto secured her semifinal spot with a dominant performance against Adriana Diaz, winning 3-0 (11-8, 11-8, 11-7). 
Meanwhile, two-time men’s singles champion Hugo Calderano is still in contention for a third consecutive title. After a five-set battle with Manush Shah, Calderano defeated Xiang Peng in four sets (12-10, 11-8, 4-11, 11-9) and will next face Simon Gauzy, who overcame Shinozuka Hiroto (9-11, 11-4, 11-7, 8-11, 11-8). 
Although Shinozuka Hiroto’s singles run ended, he found success in the men’s doubles final, partnering with Togami Shunsuke to defeat Wen Ruibo/Huang Youzheng (11-4, 7-11, 11-3, 9-11, 11-5). 
The women’s doubles title went to Harimoto Miwa/Hayata Hina, who defeated Odo Satsuki/Yokoi Sakura 3-0 (11-8, 11-5, 12-10). - PingPang Net Original 
