The prestigious ITTF Men’s and Women’s World Cup 2025 commenced on 14 April 2025 at the Galaxy Arena in Macao, where the world’s elite table tennis athletes began their quest for global supremacy. The opening day delivered spectacular performances, surprising results, and captivating moments that set the tone for what promises to be an exhilarating tournament.
Day 1 saw a blend of dominant performances from established stars and impressive showings from emerging talents. India’s Manika Batra claimed the distinction of the tournament’s first win, defeating Giret Maylis 4-0 (11-1, 11-2, 11-6, 11-4) in a dominant Group 16 encounter.
Chinese prodigy and reigning World Youth Champion Huang Youzheng made a statement with a commanding 4-0 victory over veteran Mohamed Elbiali, dazzling the enthusiastic crowd with his remarkable shot-making. The match also witnessed the tournament’s first-ever Table Tennis Review (TTR) system in action.
The day concluded with one of the tournament’s first upsets as Thailand’s Suthasini Sawettabut overcame Korea Republic’s highly-rated Kim Nayeong 3-1 (9-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-6) in a physically demanding contest, demonstrating remarkable resilience after losing the opening game.
European stars demonstrated their prowess throughout the day. France’s Simon Gauzy maintained his impressive record against Spanish rival Alvaro Robles, rallying from a game down to secure a 3-1 victory in their Group 7 encounter, while Germany’s Sabine Winter showcased the effectiveness of her innovative ‘Anti-spin’ backhand rubber in a 3-1 win against Korea Republic’s Lee Eunhye.
In one of the day’s most anticipated matchups, German starlet and reigning World Youth Champion Annett Kaufmann exhibited remarkable mental fortitude, recovering from a 0-2 deficit to secure a 2-2 draw against France’s Prithika Pavade in a contest that highlighted the exceptional talent of the sport’s next generation.
Asian competitors reinforced their reputation for excellence with several convincing victories. Japan’s Hiroto Shinozuka and Shunsuke Togami each secured impressive 4-0 wins, while Chinese Taipei’s contingent enjoyed a perfect start with Kao Cheng-Jui, Huang Yi-Hua, and Chien Tung-Chuan all emerging victorious in their respective matches.
Egyptian players made their presence felt, with teenage sensation Hana Goda delivering a commanding 4-0 victory over local hope Seak Hui Li. Her compatriot Dina Meshref, making her eighth World Cup appearance, secured a resolute 3-1 win over Zhu Chengzhu.
In a highly anticipated African continental clash, Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna prevailed 3-1 (11-6, 11-9, 6-11, 11-8) over Benin’s Abdel-Kader Salifou, reigniting their rivalry from the recent ITTF African Cup. Despite trailing in the second and fourth games, Aruna’s composure proved decisive in this nail-biting encounter.
In the Pan-American contests, American Kanak Jha dominated Argentina’s Horacio Cifuentes with a comprehensive 4-0 victory, while Canada’s Eugene Wang produced one of the day’s most surprising results by holding Japan’s highly-rated Yukiya Uda to a 2-2 draw.
Australian teenage sensation Nicholas Lum exemplified the drama the playing system can create, battling to a 2-2 (7-11, 11-5, 11-9, 10-12) draw against Hong Kong, China’s experienced Wong Chun Ting. After trailing 0-1, Lum showcased his powerful forehand to take control, but squandered two game points in the decisive fourth game that would have secured him a remarkable victory. This match perfectly illustrated how the new format amplifies the significance of every point.
As Day 1 concludes, attention turns to tomorrow’s crucial matches that will further shape the qualification landscape. View the full schedule for day 2 here.
The ITTF Men’s and Women’s World Cup 2025 continues through 20 April at the Galaxy Arena in Macao. Table tennis enthusiasts worldwide can follow the action live through official ITTF’s Youtube channel and witness history in the making as the tournament unfolds.
