https://www.scmp.com/rss/522791/feed The latest news and top stories on Lin Shidong. A prodigious table tennis talent, he became the world number one in February 2025, one of the youngest ever. He is known for his aggressive right-handed, shakehand grip style and powerful backhand. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Fan Zhendong has opted out of China’s defence of its World Team Table Tennis Championships title, sparking fears among fans that this could be the year the men finally lose. The reigning National Games singles champion, Fan qualified automatically for the tournament, which runs from April 28 to May 10 in London, but reportedly gave up his spot for “personal reasons”. At the previous championships in South Korea two years ago, Fan was instrumental in securing China’s 11th consecutive title,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3349512/china-defend-world-team-championships-title-without-table-tennis-star-fan-zhendong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3349512/china-defend-world-team-championships-title-without-table-tennis-star-fan-zhendong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 15:00:08 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Hong Kong’s Lam Siu-hang will replace injured Chinese world No 5 Lin Shidong in the field for the ITTF World Cup in Macau, less than a week before the event starts next Monday. The 20-year-old withdrew because of recurrent tendinitis and a partial tear in his rotator cuff. Medical and coaching staff cited the player being in persistent pain and having restricted shoulder movement caused by accumulated fatigue from a dense tournament schedule. The coaching team made the decision to protect the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3348198/ittf-world-cup-hong-kongs-lam-siu-hang-take-injured-lin-shidongs-spot-macau?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3348198/ittf-world-cup-hong-kongs-lam-siu-hang-take-injured-lin-shidongs-spot-macau?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 14:00:19 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan China table tennis legend Ma Long will visit Hong Kong next week to talk to local students, and a demand for tickets has already sprung up online despite it being a free, registration-only event. The six-time Olympic champion commands a crowd wherever he goes, and a 90-minute seminar at Polytechnic University seems to be no exception. Kenneth Fok Kai-kong, vice-president of the city’s Sports Federation and Olympic Committee, will host the event – A Glamorous Transformation in Sports: The Next... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3346068/mas-hong-kong-visit-sparks-online-ticket-frenzy-despite-being-free-registration-only?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3346068/mas-hong-kong-visit-sparks-online-ticket-frenzy-despite-being-free-registration-only?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 06:31:44 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Chinese table tennis superstars Wang Chuqin laid into unruly fans at the 35th ITTF-ATTU Asian Cup, after they repeatedly disrupted his opponent during a singles match on Wednesday. Despite world No 1s Wang and compatriot Sun Yingsha picking up straight-game victories to start the new season in Haikou, both expressed unhappiness with supporters who used flashes when taking pictures and screamed while points were being played. In the first round of the men’s group stage, Wang eased past world No... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3342488/china-table-tennis-superstar-wang-blasts-unruly-fans-asian-cup?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3342488/china-table-tennis-superstar-wang-blasts-unruly-fans-asian-cup?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 08:01:38 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Doo Hoi-kem was denied a second title in six days, after the Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist and fellow Hongkonger Pedrey Ng Wing-lam were beaten 3-0 by Qin Yuxuan and Zong Geman in the WTT Contender Muscat women’s doubles final on Saturday. The 29-year-old Doo enjoyed mixed doubles success last Sunday, combining with long-standing partner Wong Chun-ting for the WTT Star Contender Doha crown. Doo transferred her good form to Oman, an early mixed-doubles exit alongside Wong notwithstanding. She... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3341121/hong-kongs-doo-hoi-kem-misses-out-second-title-trot-after-loss-oman-wtt-event?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3341121/hong-kongs-doo-hoi-kem-misses-out-second-title-trot-after-loss-oman-wtt-event?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jan 2026 15:30:08 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara After combining for glory last week, Hong Kong’s Doo Hoi-kem and Wong Chun-ting went back to ploughing lone furrows towards success at the WTT Contender Muscat tournament in Oman on Thursday. Doo and Wong claimed the WTT Star Contender Doha mixed doubles title on Sunday, but were left to go their own ways in the Omani capital following a shock 3-2 first-round defeat by French pair Thibault Poret and Charlotte Lutz on Wednesday. The 34-year-old Wong convincingly bounced back 24 hours later,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3340876/hong-kongs-doo-hoi-kem-wong-chun-ting-get-wtt-contender-muscat-last-8-singles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3340876/hong-kongs-doo-hoi-kem-wong-chun-ting-get-wtt-contender-muscat-last-8-singles?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jan 2026 13:00:13 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Hong Kong’s Baldwin Chan Ho-wah will take a step into the unknown next month at the Singapore Smash, when he makes his table tennis men’s doubles debut in the prestigious event. One half of the world’s top pairing, alongside compatriot Wong Chun-ting, Chan has only previously played in the singles competition at the city’s sports hub, The Kallang. The duo had a strong 2025, winning the WTT Contender Zagreb and fighting back to beat China’s Lin Shidong and Huang Youzheng in the final of Europe... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3340145/city-table-tennis-player-chan-compete-mens-doubles-singapore-smash-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3340145/city-table-tennis-player-chan-compete-mens-doubles-singapore-smash-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jan 2026 08:12:13 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li Fans of Chinese table tennis superstars Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha have been a constant, visible presence at this week’s WTT Finals, packing into Hong Kong Coliseum in their sponsor-branded hoodies and T-shirts. Outside the venue, the fan village has become a gathering point, with supporters posing for photos in front of backdrops featuring Chinese national team players, queuing at the organisers’ and sponsors’ souvenir booths, and exchanging home-made banners and support items. Several... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3336340/china-table-tennis-fans-flock-wtt-finals-hong-kong-unlimited-budgets-some?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3336340/china-table-tennis-fans-flock-wtt-finals-hong-kong-unlimited-budgets-some?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Dec 2025 02:00:10 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Sun Yingsha, the top women’s player in table tennis, had to withdraw in the middle of a match for the first time in her career as she bowed out of the singles semi-finals of the WTT Finals Hong Kong on Saturday with an apparent left ankle injury. A double heartbreak was to follow, after Sun joined Olympic and world champion partner Wang Chuqin in the mixed doubles final, where they were swept aside – 11-9, 11-8, 11-6 – by South Korea’s Lim Jong-hoon and Shin Yu-bin at the Hong Kong Coliseum. It... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3336350/wtt-finals-hong-kong-sun-yingsha-hit-injury-loses-mixed-doubles-final-wang-chuqin?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3336350/wtt-finals-hong-kong-sun-yingsha-hit-injury-loses-mixed-doubles-final-wang-chuqin?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Dec 2025 14:43:52 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Sun Yingsha remains on course to win two titles at a WTT Finals for a second time, after storming into the quarter-finals of the women’s singles and racking up another convincing mixed doubles victory with partner Wang Chuqin on Thursday. The world No 1 dispatched Wang Yidi with ease at table tennis’ year-ending tournament in Hong Kong, to set up a last-eight clash with Miyu Nagasaki of Japan on Friday. Having beaten her Chinese compatriot nine times in their previous 10 meetings since the WTT... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3336119/wtt-finals-unbeaten-chinese-stars-sun-and-wang-course-double-delight-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3336119/wtt-finals-unbeaten-chinese-stars-sun-and-wang-course-double-delight-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 14:56:21 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li The popular duo of Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha maintained their strong start to the WTT Finals Hong Kong, dispatching compatriots Lin Shidong and Kuai Man 3-0 in mixed doubles on Thursday. Wang and Sun made relatively easy work of beating the current world No 1 mixed doubles pair in their second group match, winning 13-11, 12-10, 11-6. The popularity of the Olympic champions was clear to see at Hong Kong Coliseum, with more than 70 per cent of the seats filled for the match. The crowd also... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3336050/wtt-finals-lin-shidong-cruises-quarter-finals-win-over-liang-jingkun-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3336050/wtt-finals-lin-shidong-cruises-quarter-finals-win-over-liang-jingkun-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 08:59:58 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Wang Chuqin dug himself out of an enormous hole against Sora Matsushima to beat the Japanese teenager 4-3 at a euphoric Hong Kong Coliseum and preserve his chances of claiming a fourth straight WTT Finals title. The defending women’s champion, Wang Manyu, was also given a tough time before finally resisting another youngster from Japan, Miwa Harimoto, to win 4-2 in one hour and four minutes. World men’s No 1 Wang, whose entrance into the arena was greeted with excited squeals and cheers, dropped... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3335952/wtt-finals-wang-chuqin-survives-huge-scare-progress-wang-manyu-also-through?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3335952/wtt-finals-wang-chuqin-survives-huge-scare-progress-wang-manyu-also-through?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Dec 2025 14:39:16 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Reigning champions Wang Chuqin and Wang Manyu of China will highlight the opening-day fixtures of the WTT Finals on Wednesday as senior international table tennis action returns to Hong Kong after a six-year absence. Women’s world No 2 Wang Manyu will face Miwa Harimoto of Japan in the second evening match, followed by men’s world No 1 Wang Chuqin taking on Sora Matsushima in another China v Japan tie at Hong Kong Coliseum. Wang has never lost to world No 6 Harimoto in seven meetings, including... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3335786/wtt-finals-chinas-wang-chuqin-wang-manyu-headline-opening-day-they-defend-crowns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3335786/wtt-finals-chinas-wang-chuqin-wang-manyu-headline-opening-day-they-defend-crowns?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Dec 2025 00:00:16 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li Hong Kong’s world No 5 pair, Wong Chun-ting and Doo Hoi-kem, have been drawn in a “group of death” in the mixed doubles of the WTT Finals to be played in the city this week. With only the top two teams progressing to the semi-finals, the top city pair will contend with Olympic champions Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha, world No 1 Chinese pair Lin Shidong and Kuai Man, and India’s world No 9 combination Manush Shah and Diya Chitale. Wong, Hong Kong’s top male player, said he and his partner would... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3335651/wtt-finals-hong-kongs-wong-doo-group-death-wang-chuqin-sun-yingsha?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3335651/wtt-finals-hong-kongs-wong-doo-group-death-wang-chuqin-sun-yingsha?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Dec 2025 13:51:58 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport China thrashed Japan 8-1 to complete a hat-trick of International Table Tennis Federation Mixed Team World Cup victories in front of a raucous home crowd on Sunday. China and Japan had set up the winner-takes-all clash in Chengdu after having beaten South Korea and Germany, respectively, in the semi-finals earlier in the day. In the best-of-15 battle, Chinese pair Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha swept past Sora Matsushima and Satsuki Odo in the mixed doubles, winning 11-4, 11-4, 11-6. Wang Manyu... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3335540/china-thrash-japan-seal-third-table-tennis-world-cup-title-historic-bronze-germany?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3335540/china-thrash-japan-seal-third-table-tennis-world-cup-title-historic-bronze-germany?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Dec 2025 22:00:39 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Olympic table tennis gold medallists Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha got China’s ITTF Mixed Team World Cup campaign off to a flying start in Chengdu on Sunday, as the defending champions hammered Hong Kong 8-1. China’s dream team had some nervy moments when putting their side 3-0 up with a 12-10, 11-8, 12-10 victory over Wong Chun-ting and Doo Hoi-kem, but ultimately were too good for opponents they have played countless times before. Wang, the men’s world No 1, said the shortened nature of each... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3334685/wang-and-sun-warm-wtt-finals-china-hammer-hong-kong-mixed-team-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3334685/wang-and-sun-warm-wtt-finals-china-hammer-hong-kong-mixed-team-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Nov 2025 14:00:14 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Long regarded as a legend of the game, Fan Zhendong stands as one of the most decorated and well-rounded players in table tennis history, yet he has not stopped exploring his limits. Following his gold medal success in the National Games men’s singles, Fan will be back in action on Thursday in the team final. With Xu Xin by his side, Fan will be up against world No 1 Wang Chuqin and another legend of the game, Ma Long. Fan is aware of the challenges – rhythm, focus, coordination and adaptation –... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3333514/fan-zhendong-cements-legacy-national-games-after-completing-super-grand-slam?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3333514/fan-zhendong-cements-legacy-national-games-after-completing-super-grand-slam?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Nov 2025 08:00:11 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport We’re much closer to the end than the beginning of what has been an enthralling National Games, but we’re not done yet. Fresh off a first fencing gold for the men’s foil team, their épée counterparts get a chance to redeem themselves after the individual slip-ups they all suffered earlier this week. In badminton, mixed doubles Olympic champions Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong are proving that age is just a number. Having retired after their golden hurrah in Paris, they came back for an encore and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3333463/national-games-hong-kong-fencers-go-again-fan-v-wang-part-2-what-watch-day-11?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3333463/national-games-hong-kong-fencers-go-again-fan-v-wang-part-2-what-watch-day-11?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Nov 2025 23:01:18 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport There was a point at which the Bad News Bears and Rookie of the Year were going to make an appearance in this rundown of what’s coming up on Saturday, but then it was pointed out that the Hong Kong baseball team don’t play again until Monday, so away went that thought. Still, you’ve got to appreciate the care and attention that goes into this. Not just some mindless listicle for our readers. Anyhow, we’re into the weekend of the National Games and there is every chance the city’s athletes will... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3332893/national-games-fencing-begins-and-siobhan-haughey-carries-what-watch-day-6?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3332893/national-games-fencing-begins-and-siobhan-haughey-carries-what-watch-day-6?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 23:00:25 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan China table tennis stars Fan Zhendong and Wang Chuqin have been thrown together in the same half of the men’s singles draw at the National Games, putting them on a collision course in the semi-finals. Despite being the defending champion, Fan’s lack of competitive action internationally since December meant his world ranking has dropped, leaving him seeded fourth for this month’s tournament in Macau. Wang, meanwhile, is world No 1 and top seed, but has beaten Fan, who will represent Shanghai... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3331738/fan-and-wang-collision-course-blockbuster-semi-final-macau-hong-kong-pair-get-bye?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3331738/fan-and-wang-collision-course-blockbuster-semi-final-macau-hong-kong-pair-get-bye?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Nov 2025 09:30:09 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan The veneer of invincibility surrounding Chinese table tennis has been slowly chipped away over the past two years, and now Japanese ace Tomokazu Harimoto has sparked a furore by suggesting none of the country’s players are unbeatable. Harimoto also threw further fuel on the fire by saying that, of the Chinese men, only Wang Chuqin was a good player. The 22-year-old added that he, Swede Truls Moregard and Brazil’s Hugo Calderano were among a list of players capable of “consistently beating” their... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3326948/japans-tomokazu-harimoto-dismisses-china-table-tennis-threat-says-wang-chuqin-only-good-player?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3326948/japans-tomokazu-harimoto-dismisses-china-table-tennis-threat-says-wang-chuqin-only-good-player?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Sep 2025 09:30:08 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer China’s best table tennis players being challenged by improving Europeans and Americans is helping to grow the game globally, the sport’s global chief has said. Speaking exclusively to the Post as the WTT Champions Macau event drew to a close at the weekend, Steve Dainton, CEO of World Table Tennis, said the likes of Sweden’s Truls Moregard, French brothers Felix and Alexis Lebrun, and Hugo Calderano of Brazil were attracting “significant global attention”. Wang Chuqin ensured a Chinese men’s... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3325758/if-chinas-table-tennis-dominance-challenged-will-sport-grow-wtt-boss-has-his-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3325758/if-chinas-table-tennis-dominance-challenged-will-sport-grow-wtt-boss-has-his-say?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Sep 2025 23:30:14 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan China’s Wang Chuqin has been tipped to make straightforward progress at this week’s World Table Tennis (WTT) Champions event in Macau, but was warned to be focused for his opening match against Sora Matsushima on Tuesday. World champion and world No 2 Wang, who opted out of the WTT Europe Smash last month after winning the US Smash in Las Vegas in July, will take on Japan’s Matsushima, ranked 22nd, in the late match on the opening day. He is one of two Chinese players in the bottom half of the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3324736/chinas-wang-chuqin-sun-yingsha-expected-progress-wtt-champions-macau?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3324736/chinas-wang-chuqin-sun-yingsha-expected-progress-wtt-champions-macau?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Sep 2025 08:23:09 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan The “real” Fan Zhendong will be back, said his new teammates, after the Chinese table tennis superstar lost both of his matches on his Bundesliga debut on Sunday. Playing for 1. FC Saarbrücken for the first time, Olympic champion Fan was the top-ranked player for his team when they hosted TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt at the Joachim-Deckarm Halle sports complex. The former world No 1, who is currently not ranked after withdrawing from International Table Tennis Federation events last December, lost... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3323899/supporters-certain-fan-zhendong-will-be-back-after-losses-german-table-tennis-league?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3323899/supporters-certain-fan-zhendong-will-be-back-after-losses-german-table-tennis-league?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Sep 2025 08:19:18 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Hong Kong’s Wong Chun-ting and Baldwin Chan Ho-wah said their courage and determination had made the difference after they won the men’s doubles title at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Europe Smash in Sweden on Saturday. The duo, the world No 8 in men’s doubles, beat mainland China pair Lin Shidong and Huang Youzheng in the final, twice clawing back the lead in Malmo before eventually coming out on top 3-2. They lost the opening game 7-11 to their Chinese opponents before winning the second 11-9.... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3322954/wtt-europe-smash-hong-kong-duo-win-mens-doubles-final?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3322954/wtt-europe-smash-hong-kong-duo-win-mens-doubles-final?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Aug 2025 03:28:37 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Table tennis superstar Fan Zhendong has voiced a wish for the public to dampen down China’s so-called toxic fan culture, saying it had caused him anxiety. Fan spoke out in a television interview screened during the second leg of the Chinese Table Tennis Super League in Fujian, which ended on Monday with the Olympic champion having been dominant. The 28-year-old from Guangzhou said fans’ actions sometimes hurt not only athletes but also teams, teammates, friends and families. “To this day, I... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3320018/fan-zhendong-condemns-battlefield-chinas-toxic-fan-culture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3320018/fan-zhendong-condemns-battlefield-chinas-toxic-fan-culture?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Jul 2025 10:54:23 +0000