Top seed Wang Manyu stormed into the women’s singles semifinals at WTT China Smash 2026 after defeating South Korea’s Shin Yu-bin in straight games. China’s Chen Xingtong also advanced, while Japanese players and international pairs delivered notable results across multiple events.
China’s top seed Wang Manyu advanced to the women’s singles semifinals at the 2026 WTT China Smash on Friday after defeating South Korea’s Shin Yu-bin 4-0 in a dominant performance. Wang secured the victory with a scoreline of 11-8, 11-7, 11-3, 11-9 in approximately 30 minutes.
The win extended Wang’s winning streak against Shin to eight consecutive matches, underlining her strong record against the South Korean paddler. Wang said she had prepared carefully for the contest, having faced Shin recently at the Asian Games.
“We just met [at the Asian Games], and we are familiar with each other’s technical and tactical approaches. I was well-prepared for any difficulties ahead of this match,” Wang said after her victory.
Wang’s compatriot Chen Xingtong also secured a place in the women’s singles semifinals after producing an impressive comeback against Japan’s Honoka Hashimoto, a defensive player known for her chopper style. Chen recovered from losing the first two games to win 4-2, with scores of 5-11, 8-11, 11-2, 12-10, 11-3 and 11-6.
The Chinese player said she initially struggled to adjust to Hashimoto’s spin but gradually found her rhythm and improved her attacking game.
“I was not quite used to her spin in the first two games, but I adapted better afterwards, stayed in contention and tried to attack whenever I had the opportunity,” Chen explained.
The women’s singles competition also witnessed setbacks for two other Chinese players. Wang Yidi surrendered a two-game advantage before losing 4-2 to Japan’s Miwa Harimoto. Meanwhile, Zhu Sibing was defeated 4-1 by Japan’s Hitomi Sato in a contest between two defensive-style players.
Men’s Singles Semifinal Line-up Takes Shape
In the men’s singles competition, China’s Zhou Qihao defeated South Korea’s Jang Woo-jin 4-2 to secure his place in the semifinals. Zhou will face world No. 1 Sora Matsushima, who advanced after beating Chinese Taipei’s Feng Yi-hsin 4-1.
Looking ahead to the semifinal encounter, Zhou acknowledged the challenge posed by Matsushima, noting that he had lost to the Japanese player twice recently.
“I lost to Sora twice recently. Facing him again, I will spare no effort for a win,” Zhou said.
The upcoming match is expected to provide Zhou with another opportunity to challenge Matsushima as the tournament moves towards its decisive stages.
Women’s Doubles Final to Feature Top Two Seeds
The women’s doubles final will feature the tournament’s top two seeded pairs after both teams recorded victories in their respective semifinals.
Japan’s top-seeded combination of Miwa Harimoto and Hina Hayata defeated Chinese wild-card pair Wang Yidi and Jiang Yiyi 3-1. China’s Wang Manyu and Kuai Man secured an identical 3-1 victory over compatriots Chen Yi and Li Yihui.
Kuai praised the performance of their opponents, noting that Chen Yi and Li Yihui had played together as a pair for the first time but still produced quality shots and considerable speed.
She said Wang and Kuai had remained composed during crucial points to secure their place in the final.
The Chinese pair will now face Harimoto and Hayata in a repeat of their recent encounter at the 2026 Asian Games, where Wang and Kuai defeated the Japanese combination 4-0 to win the title.
Kuai said both pairs were familiar with each other’s playing styles and that thorough preparation would be important ahead of the final.
South Korea Wins Mixed Doubles Title
South Korea celebrated success in the mixed doubles event as Lim Jong-hoon and Shin Yu-bin captured the title on Friday. The South Korean combination defeated Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yun-ju and Cheng I-ching 3-2 in the final.
In the men’s doubles semifinals, Chinese pair Wen Ruibo and Yuan Licen lost 3-1 to French brothers Alexis Lebrun and Felix Lebrun.
| Also Read: Arunachal cricket remains stalled as legal battle disrupts domestic season |
The French brothers advanced to the next stage, where they are scheduled to face South Korea’s Lim Jong-hoon and Oh Jun-sung. The South Korean duo reached the stage after defeating India’s Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah in straight games.
With the singles semifinals approaching and several doubles titles being decided, the 2026 WTT China Smash continued to deliver competitive matches featuring leading players from China, Japan, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, France and India.
