Full match schedules and live results are available here.
Lebrun Brothers Get Perfect Start to Singles Campaign
The Lebrun brothers are off to a flying start at the Paris Olympics. After Felix’s victory earlier, Alexis Lebrun continued the family’s success with a dominant 4-0 victory over Santiago Lorenzo in just 26 minutes. The French crowd erupted with each point, cheering on their homegrown talent.
Elsewhere, Dang Qiu secured Germany’s first win of the tournament, defeating Tiago Apolonia. In the women’s singles, Dina Meshref and Bruna Takahashi advanced to the Round of 32 with impressive victories.
As day one draws to a close, the stage is set for some thrilling matches in the coming days. All eyes will be on the Mixed Doubles semi-finals tomorrow as the battle for Olympic gold intensifies.
Calderano Starts Strong, Gionis Shows Age is Just a Number
Brazil’s Hugo Calderano has made a strong start to his Paris 2024 campaign, defeating Cuba’s Andy Pereira 4-0. The fourth seed, who made his Olympic debut against the same opponent in Rio 2016, replicated his previous performance to secure a place in the next round.
Meanwhile, veteran Greek player Panagiotis Gionis, the oldest men’s table tennis player at the Paris Olympics, showed that age is just a number, producing a commanding performance to defeat Canada’s Edward Ly. The 44-year-old, making his sixth Olympic appearance, will face a stern test in the next round against USA’s Kanak Jha.
Polcanova Powers Past Aceves
Austria’s Sofia Polcanova has cruised into the Round of 32 with a dominant 4-0 victory over Mexico’s Arantxa Aceves. Polcanova was in complete control throughout the match, winning comfortably by scores of 11-4, 11-3, 11-4, and 11-8. The Austrian will face Jieni Shai in the next round. Earlier in the day, USA’s Lily Zhang made a strong start to her Paris 2024 campaign, defeating Mariana Sahakian 4-0.
Felix Lebrun Makes Dream Debut with Dominant Display
French teenager Felix Lebrun announced himself on the Olympic stage with a stunning display, defeating India’s Harmeet Desai in straight games (11-8, 11-8, 11-6, 11-8) to book his place in the Men’s Singles Round of 32. The World No. 5 wasted no time in dispatching his opponent, completing the match in under 30 minutes. Lebrun showcased his exceptional talent showcasing impressive speed and agility throughout the contest. Desai struggled to find a rhythm against Lebrun’s aggressive play and variation in spin and tempo.
The Parisian crowd erupted in cheers as Lebrun surged to a commanding 3-0 lead at the break. Chants of “Felix” echoed throughout South Paris Arena 4 as the home fans enthusiastically supported their young star. He now sets his sights on the next round where he will face Sweden’s Anton Kallberg for a place in the last 16.
Mixed Doubles Semifinals Line-Up Confirmed
World number one duo Sun Yingsha and Wang Chuqin (CHN) were pushed to the limit by the talented pair of Lin Yun-Ju and Chen Szu-Yu (TPE) but ultimately secured their place in the semi-finals with a 4-2 victory. The Chinese Taipei pair displayed exceptional skill, with Lin’s innovative shot-making and Chen’s powerful backhand causing problems for the top seeds. However, the tenacity and experience of Sun and Wang proved decisive as they battled back from a game down to claim victory.
In the other quarter-final, Wong Chun Ting and Doo Hoi Kem (HKG) secured their place in the semi-finals after a thrilling encounter with Spain’s Alvaro Robles and Maria Xiao. The Hong Kong pair saved three match points before prevailing 4-2 in a match that showcased the highest level of table tennis. The Spanish duo produced a series of breathtaking rallies, but it was the Hong Kong pair who held their nerve to advance.
Tomorrow’s semifinals, starting from 16:00 (GMT+2) will be a treat for the fans here in Paris, with Wong Chun Ting and Doo Hoi Kem (HKG) taking on the impressive Ri Jong Sik and Kim Kum Yong (DPR), followed by Sun Yingsha and Wang Chuqin who will battle it out against Shin Yubin and Lim Jonghoon (KOR).
First Semifinal Spots Secured in Mixed Doubles
Shin Yubin and Lim Jonghoon (KOR) were the first pair to secure their place in the Mixed Doubles semi-finals after a dominant 4-0 victory over Romania’s Bernadette Szocs and Ovidiu Ionescu.
Joining them shortly after was Ri Jong Sik and Kim Kum Yong (DPR). The pair, building on their perfect start yesterday, produced a 4-1 win over Sweden’s Kristian Karlsson and Christina Kallberg, booking their spots in the last four. Both pairs can now sit back and watch the remaining quarterfinals to see who they will face in tomorrow’s semifinals.
We’re back with Mixed Doubles Action!
Paris 2024 marks only the second time the Mixed Doubles event graces the Olympic stage. Debuting in Tokyo 2020, Mixed Doubles captivated audiences with heart-stopping matches and unexpected results. The Japanese pairing of Jun Mizutani and Mima Ito etched their names in history, pulling off a stunning upset to snatch gold and deny China a clean sweep of table tennis titles. This year, all eyes will be on China’s top seeds, Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha. Can they avenge their nation’s Tokyo defeat and claim Mixed Doubles gold in Paris? The stage is set for another thrilling chapter in Mixed Doubles history.
Jorgic Ends First Session with Victory Over Quek
Darko Jorgic brought the first session of day two to a close with a hard-fought 4-2 win over Singapore’s Izaac Quek. The experienced Slovenian showed his skill and determination to overcome the spirited challenge from the young debutant. Quek, despite the defeat, demonstrated plenty of promise for his maiden outing at the Games and can keep his head held high.
The action resumes at 16:00 (GMT+2), make sure you check back here for all the key moments!
Fu Yu Shocks with Dominant Performance over Jeon Jihee
A major upset rocked the Women’s Singles competition today as Portugal’s Fu Yu stunned the crowd with a commanding 4-0 victory over ninth-seeded Jeon Jihee of Korea. The World No. 80 player defied expectations, outplaying the World No. 14 in a dominant display. Jeon Jihee, considered a favourite entering the match, was unable to find her rhythm against Fu Yu’s aggressive style. Fu Yu controlled the tempo throughout, showcasing impressive focus and determination.
“I didn’t expect this result,” said Fu Yu after her surprising victory. “When I saw the draw, I thought I had gotten a tough one. I prepared two days for this, and I felt pretty good when I went out there. I think my opponent was a little nervous. It’s the first match, after all. It’s also the first one for me, but I felt pretty OK. I went out there with nothing to lose. I just went for it. I think that was a better mindset to have. I’m already surprised enough that I was able to win, what’s more 4-0. She’s such a highly ranked player. I didn’t even think about the second round when I got my draw. I guess now I will have to go prepare for that.” – Fu Yu
Manika Marches On!
India’s Manika Batra has advanced to the next round with a convincing victory over Anna Hursey of Team GB. The Indian star displayed her class and determination as she secured a 4-1 win. Batra will now face a highly anticipated showdown against fellow compatriot Prithika Pavade, with the home crowd expected to be in full voice for the French player.
Congo’s Saheed Idowu Bows Out After Stunning Maiden Performance
Saheed Idowu has captured the hearts of the fans with a performance for the ages. The 34-year-old Olympian, competing in his first Games, pushed World No. 25 Anton Kallberg to the brink of defeat in a thrilling seven-game encounter. From 3-1 down, Idowu produced a series of breathtaking shots to level the match, igniting the crowd at the South Paris Arena. However, Kallberg’s unwavering determination and refusal to give up ultimately proved decisive, as the Swede fought back to secure a hard-earned victory. Both players delivered a thrilling match, with Idowu becoming a national hero who certainly gained new fans here in Paris, while Kallberg demonstrated his immense resilience, and will now face the winner of Felix Lebrun and Harmeet Desai.
Hayata Rebounds Strongly in Singles
Hina Hayata has bounced back from yesterday’s mixed doubles disappointment with a dominant 4-0 victory over Italy’s Debora Vivarelli. The Japanese star, making her Olympic debut, is considered a strong medal contender and has started her campaign in impressive fashion. Hayata will now await her next opponent in the Round of 32.
Wang Chuqin Storms Back to Win on Debut
World No. 1 Wang Chuqin has made a winning start to his Olympic singles campaign, defeating Yang Wang 4-1. Despite dropping the opening game, Chuqin quickly found his rhythm and dominated proceedings, showcasing impressive receiving skills that yielded 64% of the points from his opponent’s serve. The top seed will face a stern test in the next round against Truls Moregard.
Sreeja Akula Flies the Flag for Rising India
Sreeja Akula has made a dream start to her Olympic journey, showcasing India’s burgeoning table tennis talent with a dominant 4-0 victory over Sweden’s Christina Kallberg. The Indian star’s recent impressive form has translated seamlessly to the Olympic stage, setting the scene for exciting battles to come. As she progresses to the next round against either Zeng Jian or Ivana Malobabic, the nation will be eagerly watching.
Kanak Jha Causes Major Upset, Defeats World No. 20
Kanak Jha has produced a major upset, defeating World No. 20 Cho Daeseong 4-2 in the Men’s Singles Round of 64. The American’s counter-attacking style proved too much for the big-hitting Korean, as the crowd erupted in celebration for the homegrown talent. Jha will now look to build on this momentum as he progresses to the next round.
Omar Assar Too Strong for History-Making Rakotoarimanana
Egypt’s Omar Assar has advanced to the next round after a 4-1 victory over Madagascar’s Fabio Rakotoarimanana. Rakotoarimanana, who made history as his country’s first-ever table tennis Olympian and was also the flag bearer, gave a valiant performance, even managing to claim one game against the experienced Assar. However, the four-time Olympian proved too strong in the end.
Sun Yingsha Starts with a Bang
Day two of the Paris Olympics has kicked off with a dominant performance from world number one Sun Yingsha. The Chinese superstar secured the first win of the day, sweeping aside Brazilian debutante Giulia Takahashi 4-0. As she chases her elusive singles gold medal to complete a career Grand Slam, Sun Yingsha has sent a clear message to her rivals: she means business.
Top Seed kickoffs Day 2
Day 2 of Table Tennis at Paris 2024 is underway with Women’s top seed, Sun Yingsha of China, taking on the rising Brazilian, Giulia Takahashi. Meanwhile fifth seed, Bernadette Szocs is up against Singapore’s debutant, Zhou Jingyi, while USA’s Kanak Jha is battling it out with Cho Daeseong! Taking up the last table is Omar Assar and Madagascar’s pride, Fabio Rakotoarimanana who has become his nation’s first table tennis player to compete at the Olympics.
