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In the final match of Day 3, familiar foes Dimitrij Ovtcharov (Germany) and Lin Yun-Ju (Chinese Taipei) played an epic to end Stage 1, with Ovtcharov prevailing 3-1 by the tightest of margins.
In their 10th encounter, Dimitrij Ovtcharov and Lin Yun-Ju delivered electrifying performances as momentum shifted back and forth, keeping the crowd enthralled. As the fourth game approached, the stakes couldn’t have been higher—Ovtcharov required a decisive 3-1 victory to advance, since a 2-2 draw would tilt the points win/loss ratio in Lin’s favor, adding to the drama of an unforgettable showdown.
But Ovtcharov dug deep to save multiple game points in the fourth game, and ultimately won 14-12, 8-11, 12-10, 15-13.
“Every game was so close, and the match could have gone either way. He (Lin) is an extremely strong opponent, and I have massive respect for him. I have had a tough run in the last few tournaments, so it feels great to reach Stage 2”, said Ovtcharov.
Ovtcharov is the only former World Cup winner in the Men’s draw, and has enjoyed deep runs in multiple World Cup editions. He will look to draw on his experience as Stage 2 is set to commence.
Bruna Takahashi (Brazil) put up a stellar show to overcome Manika Batra (India) 3-1 (13-11, 11-8, 11-4, 10-12).
Takahashi looked comfortable against Manika Batra’s ‘long pimple’ backhand, and used it as a weak spot to target rather than let it affect her.
After a tight first game that could have swung both ways, Takahashi kept her foot on the accelerator and took games 2 and 3 and sealing her qualification to Stage 2.
Bruno said, “I am really happy to win this match. She (Manika) is a tough opponent, and it was a good result. I prepared hard for this match, and worked with my coach to train against her style of play and I am glad it worked”.
Anton Kallberg (Sweden) maintained his dominance over Quadri Aruna (Nigeria), winning 4-0 (14-12, 13-11, 11-9, 11-2) in emphatic fashion.
Kallberg, a Quarterfinalist at last year’s edition of the World Cup, unleashed attacking topspin strokes from both flanks to take control from the get go. He was careful to not allow Aruna’s big forehand into the match, and maintained his focus to win all four games.
With this win, Kallberg finishes Stage 1 with a perfect record of 8 wins.
“Really happy with my match. We have played quite a few times recently and know each other very well. He (Aruna) is really strong with a big forehand, so I had to be careful. I have beaten him in the past, so I had a clear idea on what tactics I wanted to employ”, said Kallberg.
In a clash of contrasting styles, veteran chopper Suh Hyo Won (Republic of Korea) drew 2-2 (11-8, 9-11, 7-11, 11-4) against Lily Zhang (United States of America).
With the drawn result, Won knocks Zhang out of the competition on account of a better points win/loss ratio.
Interestingly, Won had never lost more than a game to Zhang prior to this encounter.
World No. 25 Zhang missed out on Stage 2 due to a critical lapse in focus. After taking a 2-1 lead and commanding the match, Zhang faltered in the fourth game, letting Won establish a sizable lead. The resulting 4-11 loss swung the points ratio significantly in Won’s favor, paving the way for her qualification.
The 37 year old Won will now be looking to bank on all her experience in the knockouts, ruffle a few more feathers in Stage 2.
World No. 2 Wang Chuqin (China) mauled Tomislav Pucar (Croatia) in merciless fashion, winning with a 4-0 (11-3, 11-5, 11-8, 11-1) score line.
In front of a sold out crowd, Wang looked to be back at his best, putting on a show in an attacking masterclass. Looking to be in much better form than in his opening fixture, Wang will look to continue this momentum in Stage 2 as he looks to win his first World Cup.
Upset Alert again!!
Yi-Hsin Feng (Chinese Taipei) fought back from 0-2 down to snatch a 2-2 draw against World No. 6 Felix Lebrun (France).
The draw tied both players on 5 wins and 3 losses in their group, but a better point win/loss ratio means that Feng goes through to Stage 2 of the tournament.
Feng, who entered the tournament as a last-minute replacement for Cho Daeseong, joins Simon Gauzy as the second substitute player to advance to Stage 2. Qualification from Group 8 means that Feng will merit a good seeding in the Round of 16, and has a great chance of making it deep into the tournament.
Lebrun cut a disappointed figure, letting a commanding 2-0 lead slip away. Though he recognized the momentum shifting towards Feng during the third game, his inability to adapt his tactics in time proved costly. Under mounting pressure, Lebrun faltered, resulting in his elimination from the tournament.
The final score line read – 9-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-7.
Upset Alert!!
Shunsuke Togami (Japan) knocked out last year’s runner up and World No. 9 Lin Gaoyuan (China).
With Togami having won a game extra coming into this match, a 2-2 draw was enough for him to send Gaoyuan packing.
With an impressive arsenal of topspin shots, Togami unleashed his attacking prowess, blending power and precision to overturn a 0-1 deficit and secure the next two games. His exuberant celebration after the third game left no doubt—Togami knew he had sealed his progression.
Although backed by a roaring full house crowd, Gaoyuan couldn’t halt the relentless Togami’s momentum. His victory in the fourth game—a mere dead rubber—offered a small boost of pride but did little to alter the ultimate result. Togami’s inspired performance remained the defining highlight of the encounter.
The final score line read – 12-14, 11-9, 11-9, 5-11
Simon Gauzy (France) and Patrick Franziska (Germany) played an entertaining 2-2 draw in a match filled with drama.
Both players still in the fray for qualification, with the pressure being on Franziska to win by a minimum of 3-1 margin or better to stand a chance of qualification. Gauzy on the other hand needed to win two games to guarantee himself a place in Stage 2.
After winning a tight first game, Gauzy squandered a ‘qualification’ point at 10-9 in the second, allowing Franziska to level things up. However, he quickly raced to a 4-0 lead in the third game, and eventually took it at 11-8 to qualify for the knockouts.
Gauzy, only at the World Cup courtesy of compatriot Alexis Lebrun’s late withdrawal, has seized his opportunity with outstanding performances. His impressive form positions him as a strong contender to make a significant impact in Stage 2.
Bernadette Szocs (Romania) produced an exceptional performance to win 4-0 (11-8, 11-6, 11-9, 11-8) against Sreeja Akula (India) and qualify to Stage 2.
‘Bernie’, as she is fondly called, played a near perfect match, winning in straight games in an encounter that was expected to be a lot closer.
Szocs, having struggled in the past against players using a ‘long pimple’ rubber like Akula, showed remarkable preparation this time around, displaying confidence and comfort in handling the challenge. Aware of Akula’s inclination for step-around forehands, Szocs tactically minimized shots to her backhand, focusing instead on targeting Akula’s forehand. This strategic play effectively wrong-footed Akula several times, showcasing Szocs’s adaptability.
Szocs in her post match interview said, “I am feeling very happy, as she uses a style of play that has caused me problems in the past. This was my first game against her, so I made sure to do watch some videos and prepare my tactics, and I am glad they worked well”.
Day 3, evening session is up and kicking!
In the Men’s singles, Darko Jorgic (Slovenia) kept his cool in a tense encounter to win 3-1 (11-8, 11-13, 11-5, 11-8) against Cheng-Jui Kao (Chinese Taipei). With this win, Jorgic qualified to Stage 2 of the tournament.
The match was tense, with both players disputing each other’s serve, citing ball toss and visibility concerns. Multiple TTR reviews occurred, adding to the intensity right up to the end of the fourth game.
With Darko having one of the most dangerous backhands in the world, Kao tried to target his midsection and forehand, causing occasional problems. However, Darko made the necessary adjustments to deny Kao of the win.
“I am really happy to win and qualify for the knockouts. I always knew that Kao was a dangerous player, and I recently lost to him in a league match despite leading 2-0. That was playing in my mind a bit, but I kept my focus and am happy with how I played”, said Jorgic.
With Liang Jingkun and Shin Yubin finishing the Day 3 morning session with straight set victories (over Nicholas Lum and Elizabeta Samara respectively) , the following is the list of qualifiers to Stage 2 from this morning :-
Men’s singles
- Lin Shidong
- Tomokazu Harimoto
- Liang Jingkun
- Truls Moregardh
- Hiroto Shinozuka
- Kanak Jha
- An Jaehyun
- Benedikt Duda
Women’s singles
- Sun Yingsha
- Jia Nan Yuan
- Satsuki Odo
- Hina Hayata
- Miwa Harimoto
- Cheng I-Ching
- Shin Yubin
- Adriana Diaz
American hope Kanak Jha and German pen-holder Dang Qiu played out a scrappy 2-2 draw in a match where both players struggled to find rhythm.
Qiu, needing a score line of 3-1 or better to qualify, seemed bogged down by the pressure to make a quick start. Down 0-1 and trailing in the second game as well, coach Jorg Rosskopf called a timeout to try and turn things around. The tactic almost worked, but a 10-12 loss in the second game eliminated him from the competition.
“It was a strange match, and I have to admit that I did not have great focus after the second game. I had a feeling that I had qualified but was not sure, and he (Dang Qiu) raised his level too. Not a great finish, but really happy to have qualified. I want to be able to present the best version of myself at the mian draw and go as far as I can”, said Jha.
Benedikt Duda (Germany) survived a tough encounter against upcoming Korean youngster Junsung Oh, managing to get a 2-2 result.
Junsung, fresh off a title winning run at the WTT Star Contender Chennai 2025, had some starting trouble, but made a strong comeback from 0-2 down to secure a 2-2 draw.
Duda will likely regret missing the chance to secure victory, letting a game point slip away in the third game that could have sealed the match.
The 2-2 result tied Duda and Oh on 6 game wins and 3 losses. But wins with a healthy margin in the first two games helped Duda finish with a better points ratio, allowing him to qualify to Stage 2.
“We both played a high level today. I am glad I got off to a good start, and won the first two games 11-7 and 11-2 , which helped me get through. He (Oh) is a young player who has been on a great run, and is already ranked highly in the world. It was my first meeting as well so not a bad result. I will now focus on the main draw”, said Duda.
Adriana Diaz (Puerto Rico) qualified to Stage 2, managing to play a 2-2 (11-5, 4-11, 11-6, 10-12). draw against Annett Kaufmann (Germany).
After a prolonged exchange with the umpire following Kaufmann’s ‘foul’ appeal on her serve in the second game, Diaz displayed impressive mental resilience, maintaining her composure to take a 2-1 lead and secure her spot in Stage 2. Though she missed a chance to clinch victory with a game point in the fourth game, it ultimately had minimal impact on the outcome as a 2-2 draw was more than enough to get through.
Post her match, Diaz said “It was really uncomfortable in the beginning, especially with an issue with my serve. But I did not let it affect me. I think the review (TTR) system is quite fun, and is great for the sport. I love playing in good venues like this, with an appreciative crowd, so am glad to put in this performance and qualify. I don’t usually get the opportunity to train with left handers, and it is great to get through a group which had two high quality left handers”.
Chinese superstars Yingsha Sun and Shidong Lin have qualified to Stage 2, scoring convincing victories against their opponents.
Sun raced off to a 3-0 lead against Tung-Chuan Chien (Chinese Taipei). A lapse in concentration cost her the fourth game, but it proved to be of little significance as the defending champion put up a strong performance. The final scoreline read – 11-6, 11-3, 11-5, 7-11.
Lin held fort against a strong start from Polish teen sensation Milosz Redzimski, recovering well after a first game loss to take the next three in quick fashion. Lin looked in much better rhythm as compared to his opening fixture, and will be hoping to continue in the same fashion in Stage 2. The final scoreline read – 8-11, 11-2, 11-4, 11-1.
Japanese southpaw Hiroto Shinozuka scored an upset over Woojin Jang (Republic of Korea), winning 3-1 (11-8, 10-12, 11-9, 15-13).
The match saw both players playing topspin shots from behind the table to great effect and plenty of long rallies. It featured two of the fittest players on tour, and both lived up to their reputations, maneuvering the arena beautifully.
The score line is an accurate reflection of the match, as Shinozuka managed to be better than Jang ever so slightly in clutch moment, and managed to qualify to Stage 2.
Swedish star Truls Moregardh secured his place in Stage 2, with a straightforward victory against Vitor Ishiy (Brazil).
The World No. 7, making his second World Cup appearance, shrugged off a slow start to win 3-1 (12-10, 11-2, 4-11, 11-4).
“It is always tough to play in a format like this, where every game and point counts. Vitor is someone who is very fast, and was playing at a very high quality. I had to be very sharp with my receiving game, and every time I was not, he made me pay. I adjusted my tactics accordingly and it was a good win”, said Moregardh.
Yidi Wang (China) beat Jieni Shao (Portugal) 4-0 (11-9, 11-2, 11-3, 11-7) to keep her qualification hopes alive.
World No. 3 Wang, rebounding from an unexpected loss to Frenchwoman Jia Nan Yuan in yesterday’s match, appeared to have shaken off any signs of rust. She delivered a commanding performance, comfortably dispatching Shao and regaining her trademark form. Needing a 4-0 victory to stand a chance of going through, Wang showed remarkable composure.
With both Wang and Yuan finishing the group stages with identical records of 5 wins and 3 losses, the anticipation now shifts to the draw ceremony later this evening, which will determine who advances from this electrifying group.
Tomokazu Harimoto (Japan) navigated a tough opponent and crowd to prevail 3-1 (11-8, 11-9, 12-10, 6-11) against Youzheng Huang (China).
Huang, the reigning World Youth Champion, put up an admirable fight against Harimoto, pushing him to the brink in a valiant display during his World Cup debut. Despite his impressive performance, Huang was unable to capitalize on key moments, letting leads slip away in both the second and third games.
Drawing on his wealth of experience, Harimoto mounted an impressive comeback from 7-10 down in the third game, stringing together five consecutive points to secure a decisive 3-0 lead and confirm his progression to Stage 2.
Harimoto will look to draw confidence from this win, as he looks to mount a challenge for his first major singles trophy.
In the men’s singles action from Day 3 , Jeahyun An (Republic of Korea), produced a strong performance to win 3-1 (12-10, 11-8, 11-5, 9-11) against Omar Assar (Egypt).
With just one place separating both players on the world rankings, this was expected to be a tight match. But An began at full throttle, never allowing Assar to settle in to the match.
An, renowned for his relentless attacking prowess from both wings of the table, showcased peak performance, consistently driving Assar onto the back foot and compelling him into tough defensive scenarios. He was quick to grab his opportunities and booked his place in Stage 2.
Assar, the reigning ITTF African Cup champion, produced an underwhelming performance, clearly not looking to be at his best level. He managed to win the fourth game as a consolation, but it was too late by then.
Day 3 action begins with a quick win for Japanese starlet Miwa Harimoto, who beat Doo Hoi Kem (Hong Kong, China) in four straight games (11-7, 11-6, 11-5, 11-5).
A struggling Kem looked to be suffering from a wrist and forearm injury on her playing hand, visibly causing her distress. It was an unfortunate situation, since Kem would have fancied her chances, having lost in a close 2-3 encounter to Harimoto when they last met.
With this win, Harimoto successfully books her place in Stage 2 (knockout stages) of the tournament.
