China’s women’s table tennis team powered through a tricky encounter to secure a 3-1 victory over Poland in the round of 32 at the 2026 ITTF World Team Championships in London on May 4. The top-seeded Chinese squad showed resilience after a brief scare, booking their spot in the last 16.
World No. 1 Sun Yingsha delivered a commanding performance, winning both of her matches to lead the team to victory. After dominating the group stage with three straight 3-0 wins over Romania, Chinese Taipei, and South Korea, China entered the knockout rounds with confidence. Head coach Ma Lin sent out Sun Yingsha, Kuai Man, and Wang Manyu for the match, with Wang making her tournament debut.
Sun opened the contest in style, dispatching Poland’s Wilgos with a swift 11-3, 11-6, 11-8 victory to give China a 1-0 lead. However, the second match brought an unexpected twist. World No. 7 Kuai Man faced Poland’s top player, Bayo, and after taking the first game 11-3, she lost the next three 11-9, 11-9, and 15-13, leveling the overall score at 1-1.
With the match hanging in the balance, Wang Manyu stepped up under pressure. Facing Wegierska, she played a composed and clinical game, winning 11-5, 11-4, 11-4 to restore China’s lead and steady the ship.
In the fourth match, Sun Yingsha returned to face Bayo, who had earlier beaten Kuai Man. This time, Sun left no room for doubt, racing to an 11-2, 11-3, 11-5 victory, allowing her opponent only five points in the final game. Her dominant display sealed the win for China.
Throughout the match, Sun Yingsha went unbeaten without dropping a single game, underlining her status as world No. 1. Wang Manyu’s composed debut provided valuable depth, while Kuai Man’s setback offered important experience under pressure.
China’s women’s team will next face Sweden in the round of 16 as they continue their pursuit of the championship trophy.
