During an exclusive interview, we explored the recent performance of the Chinese women’s table tennis team at the Asian Championships held in Astana, Kazakhstan. On October 10, the team, composed of Sun Yingsha, Wang Yidi, and Chen Xingtong, faced off against Japan but suffered a tough 1-3 defeat, marking Japan’s first victory over the Chinese women in a major tournament since the 1974 Yokohama Championships.
As the team stood on the podium, the disappointment was palpable, with fans expressing their frustration by calling for head coach Ma Lin to step down. Following the match, Sun Yingsha announced her withdrawal from the individual events to focus on her physical recovery.
According to reports from China News Weekly, the Japanese team, featuring Mima Ito, Miyu Kato, and Sora Matsushima, managed to secure a win despite the absence of their top player, Hina Hayata.
In the final match, the competition played out as follows: Wang Yidi narrowly lost to Mima Ito 2-3 in the opening match. The second match showcased Sun Yingsha, known for her impressive skills, who decisively defeated Sora Matsushima 3-0. However, Chen Xingtong faced a setback, losing 1-3 to Miyu Kato, and ultimately, Sun Yingsha fell to Mima Ito 2-3 in the final match, leading to an overall loss of 1-3 for the Chinese team.
Post-match analysis indicated that the introduction of seamless balls by the International Table Tennis Federation created challenges for the Chinese squad. Compared to the previous stitched balls, the new seamless design offers more uniformity, enhanced elasticity, and improved spin capabilities. Although these changes make the balls more durable, they can also lead to instability in their trajectory, causing athletes to miss shots more frequently.
Additionally, fans expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of the venue and tables in Astana, which further compounded the difficulties faced by the athletes.
Fatigue among key players emerged as a hot topic in the discussions. As statistical reports revealed, Sun Yingsha participated in an exhausting 34 matches over the span of 75 days from the Paris Olympics opening on July 27, through the WTT Macau Championships, WTT China Grand Slam, and into the Asian Championships. The grueling schedule has undoubtedly taken a toll on her stamina.
During the interview, Sun Yingsha candidly mentioned that the hectic post-Olympic schedule has limited her ability to train systematically, forcing her to squeeze in training sessions whenever possible to maintain her physical condition.
Despite the circumstances, the Chinese women’s team opted to keep Sun Yingsha as their leader for this championship, considering her valuable experience at major competitions. Following the Olympics, key player Chen Meng chose to rest and recover, and another top player, Wang Manyu, withdrew before the tournament due to family issues. This left Sun Yingsha, Wang Yidi, and Chen Xingtong to represent the team.
In light of the defeat in the team final, Sun Yingsha announced her decision to step back from the individual events to focus on recovery and adjustment. She explained that her arm showed clear signs of strain post-match, and after a medical evaluation, her coach agreed with her decision to withdraw from the singles competition.
