The Chinese women’s table tennis team kicked off the knockout stage of the London World Team Table Tennis Championships on May 4 with a 3-1 victory over Poland, advancing to the round of 16.
In the opening match, Sun Yingsha defeated Wilgos 3-0. The second match saw China’s second singles player Kuai Man face Poland’s top player Natalia Bajor in a tense battle. Kuai took the first game 11-3 but then lost three consecutive games 9-11, 9-11, and 13-15, allowing Poland to level the overall score at 1-1.
Wang Manyu stepped up in the third match, beating Węgrzyn 3-0 to restore China’s lead. Sun Yingsha returned to the table in the fourth match and secured the team’s victory with a 3-0 win over Bajor.
After the match, Sun Yingsha acknowledged Bajor’s strong rallying ability and emphasized the team’s preparation. “We were well-prepared for her. Even after Kuai’s loss, Wang and I stayed calm and focused,” Sun said. “Coach Ma Lin reminded us before the knockout stage not to put too much pressure on ourselves and to share the load. That helped us keep a normal mindset.”
Kuai Man reflected on her defeat, pointing to instability in crucial points. “After taking the lead, my opponent played some great shots, and I made some unforced errors. I got a bit flustered. The three games I lost were all decided by two or three points. I need to improve my consistency in key moments,” she said.
Making her debut at this year’s championships, Wang Manyu admitted to feeling nervous but excited. “I didn’t play in the group stage due to injury. The coaching staff gave me extra time to recover and adjust so I could be ready for the knockout round,” she explained.
China will face Sweden in the round of 16, after Sweden defeated Kazakhstan 3-1 to advance.
