Singapore Smash 2023 sees Return of Reigning Doubles Champions!

by Circle, on February 21, 2023

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China’s Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha - 2022 Singapore Smash Mixed Doubles Champions. Photo Credit : WTT 



The current champions in all 3 Doubles events of Singapore Smash 2022, will be back next month to defend their respective crowns at the OCBC Arena. With the reigning Singles champions also confirmed for the 2nd edition of the Singapore Smash, the US$2 Million extravaganza presents the ultimate platform to watch table tennis’ best athletes. The overall player line-up for the 7-19 March event is listed here.

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China’s Fan Zhendong and Wang Chuqin - 2022 Singapore Smash Men's Doubles Champions. Photo Credit : WTT 

 

11 months ago at the Singapore Sports Hub, Fan Zhendong and Wang Chuqin won their biggest title as a pair, after beating Japanese world No. 3s Yukiya Uda and Shunsuke Togami 3-1 in the men's doubles finale. Zhendong also went on to win the coveted Men's Singles trophy and $100,000 in prize money. Meanwhile, coming up in 2 weeks, 3rd-ranked Chuqin and Zhendong are expected to face a stiff challenge from Uda and Togami yet again, as well as 2021 world champions Mattias Falck and Kristian Karlsson of Sweden. 

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China’s Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu - 2022 Singapore Smash Women's Doubles Champions. Photo Credit : WTT 

 

The women’s doubles field will also see the return of the 2022 finalists – winners Wang Manyu and Sun Yingsha of China, and runners-up Hina Hayata and Mima Ito of Japan. Both pairs are ranked No. 1 and No. 2 respectively. Joining them are world No. 3 Austrian Sofia Polcanova and Romania's Bernadette Szocs, and the 4th-ranked Ni Xia Lian and Sarah De Nutte of Luxembourg. 

In the Mixed Doubles, China’s Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha will defend their Singapore Smash mixed doubles titles as well. Last March, the Chinese duo defeated world No. 1s Lin Yun-Ju and Cheng I-Ching (TPE) 3-0 (11-3, 12-10, 11-4).

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TeamSG's Koen Pang & Izaac Quek competing at the Singapore Smash 2022. Photo Credit : WTT

 

Team Singapore are represented by 8 pairs across all three doubles events. The Singapore doubles teams are as follows:

MIXED DOUBLES – MAIN DRAW

  • Clarence Chew Zhe Yu / Zeng Jian
  • Koen Pang Yew En / Wong Xin Ru
  • Poh Shao Feng Ethan / Goi Rui Xuan
  • Quek Izaac / Zhou Jingyi

WOMEN’S DOUBLES – MAIN DRAW

  • Ser Lin Qian / Zhou Jingyi
  • Wong Xin Ru / Goi Rui Xuan

MEN’S DOUBLES ­– MAIN DRAW

  • Clarence Chew Zhe Yu/ Poh Shao Feng Ethan
  • Koen Pang Yew En / Izaac Quek Yong


    Stephen Duckitt, Event Strategy Director, World Table Tennis, said, “We’re just two weeks away from one of the most prestigious events in table tennis, and Singapore Smash 2023 is definitely the place to be for fans of the sport. The best local and international players will be in action, including the defending champions of all five categories. We’ll have established veterans and talented rising stars that include our own Singapore athletes. With the exciting battles and thrilling rallies set to take place at the Singapore Sports Hub, as well as wide variety of entertainment options for all, visitors to Singapore Smash 2023 are definitely in for a great time here.”

Singapore Smash 2023 at the OCBC Arena, will feature 64 player men’s and women’s singles and 24-pair doubles and mixed competitions. A singles qualifying competition featuring a further 64 men and 64 women will be held from 7-9 March. 

Tickets for the Qualifying sessions and the Main draw are available here.