2025 World Championships: Top seeds dominate as competition enter decisive phase
Doha, May 21 : The World Table Tennis Championships entered a critical phase as top-ranked players continued their commanding performances on the fifth day of action at the Lusail Arena.
The tournament, running until May 25, features 640 athletes from 127 countries competing in 443 matches across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles categories.
In the men’s singles round of 32, world No. 1 Lin Shidong of China displayed dominance with a 4-1 win over Sweden’s Kristian Karlsson.
Brazil’s Hugo Calderano (No. 3) overcame Kazakhstan’s Kirill Gerassimenko 4-2, while Germany’s Patrick Franziska (No. 8) edged out South Korea’s Cho Daeseong 4-3 in a thrilling encounter. Lin Yun-Ju of Chinese Taipei (No. 12) also advanced with a clean 4-0 sweep of Austria’s Daniel Habesohn.
Women’s singles saw similar dominance from top seeds. World No. 1 Sun Yingsha of China cruised past France’s Charlotte Lutz 4-0. Teammate Wang Manyu (No. 2) defeated Germany’s Yang Han 4-1. Japan’s Miwa Harimoto (No. 5) battled to a 4-3 win over North Korea’s Kim Kum Yong, while fellow Japanese stars Hina Hayata (No. 6) and Mima Ito (No. 8) also progressed, along with South Korea’s Shin Yubin (No. 9).
In men’s doubles, top-ranked French brothers Félix and Alexis Lebrun reached the quarterfinals with a 3-1 win over Sweden’s Källberg and Möregårdh. China’s Lin Gaoyuan and Lin Shidong also advanced with a 3-0 win over the Korean duo Jang and Cho. A major upset came as Romania’s Ionescu and Spain’s Robles knocked out Japan’s Harimoto and Matsushima 3-2.
The women’s doubles saw Japan’s top-ranked pair Satsuko Odo and Sakura Yokowa ease into the quarterfinals with a 3-0 victory. Fellow Japanese duo Harimoto and Mio Kiara, and Germany’s Winter and Yuan, also secured wins.
Mixed doubles featured a shock result as world No. 1 Lin Shidong and Cai Man were ousted by Japan’s Yoshimura and Odo (No. 16) 3-1. Hong Kong’s Wong Chun Ting and Doo Hoi Kem progressed to the semis with a 3-0 win over Spain’s Robles and Xiao.
Action resumes Thursday with the singles round of 16 and doubles quarterfinals.
(Mohammad Amin)
