(TeamSG's Feng Tianwei. Photo Credit : WTT)

4 March 2022 – Spectators at the inaugural Singapore Smash can look forward to watching their favourite local table tennis players in action at the OCBC Arena at the Singapore Sports Hub next week. In addition to women’s world No. 9 Feng Tianwei and Olympian Lin Ye, the March 7-20 event will also feature a slew of Singapore stars, who have been awarded wildcards into the event.

The 15 Singaporean wildcards include Olympian Clarence Chew, reigning SEA Games men’s singles champion Koen Pang, rising stars Izaac Quek, Zhou Jingyi and Ser Lin Qian. Please refer to Annex A for the full list of wildcard entries.

WTT Grand Smashes form the foundation of the WTT Series and the Singapore Smash is the first of the four new pillars of professional table tennis. Singapore Table Tennis Association president Ellen Lee, JP, PBM, said: “We are excited that WTT Grand Smash is coming to Singapore. It is a great opportunity not only for our Singapore athletes to face the world’s best in an event of this stature, but also for them to exhibit their talent in front of a home crowd. We hope local fans and aspiring table tennis players enjoy the chance to catch their favourite athletes in action.

Our Singapore players will compete for a prize pool of USD2,000,000, the largest ever seen at an officially-sanctioned table tennis event. We are very much looking forward to the Grand Smash, and we encourage fellow Singaporeans to come and cheer on our local players at the event.’’

Steve Dainton, International Table Tennis Federation Group CEO, said: "One important benefit of the Singapore Smash is that it provides an opportunity to nurture and develop local talent. This is a platform for Singapore players to further their progress and announce their arrival in the global table tennis community. We look forward to these players developing through the annual Singapore Smash, and creating a legacy of having Singapore champions coming through in the future."

Singapore’s paddlers are relishing the chance to compete on home ground. Zhou Jingyi, the youngest member of the bronze-winning Singapore team at the 2021 Asian Table Tennis Championships, said: “Singapore is hosting the first-ever Grand Smash and it is a privilege to be a part of this event. I can’t wait for my family and friends to catch me in action.”

Koen Pang, who won the 2019 SEA Games men’s singles gold on his Games debut, added: “Playing in front of a home crowd is always special, and I’m looking forward to playing against the world’s best at such a prestigious event.” In addition to these Singapore stars, spectators can also expect to see a highly competitive field comprising Olympic and world championship medallists at the Singapore Smash. These include three-time world champion Ma Long, the first male player to win two consecutive Olympic men’s singles titles. Fans can visit www.worldtabletennis.com to see the full player entry lists for all competitions.

Tickets are now on sale starting from $10. All spectators to Singapore Smash 2022 are to abide by the necessary Safe Management Measures. More details are available at go.gov.sg/wttsingaporesmashticket

In line with the recommendations made by the International Olympic Committee Executive Board, Singapore Smash will not feature any Russian or Belarusian players and officials.

The opening round of qualifying matches commences this Monday at 10am. All spectators to Singapore Smash 2022 are to abide by the necessary Safe Management Measures. Spectators attending Singapore Smash must be fully vaccinated and submit a negative self-administered ART test result before entry into OCBC Arena. Individuals who are either (1) recovered from a COVID-19 infection within the past 180 days regardless of vaccination status, (2) medically ineligible for COVID-19 vaccination, (3) unvaccinated children aged 12 and below, can attend the event, and will also have to submit a negative self-administered ART test result before entry into OCBC Arena.

Annex A

Singapore Smash Wildcards

All players listed below are Singaporean unless otherwise indicated

Men’s Singles – MAIN DRAW

1 Chew Zhe Yu Clarence

2 Pang Yew En Koen

3 Quek Yong Izaac

4 Poh Shao Feng Ethan

5 Lin Shidong (CHN)

Men’s Singles – QUALIFYING

1 Josh Chua Shao Han

2 Tan Lucas

3 Beh Kun Ting

4 Wong Yan Kai Andy

5 Xiang Peng (CHN)

Women’s Singles – MAIN DRAW

1 Zeng Jian

2 Zhou Jingyi

3 Wong Xin Ru

4 Goi Rui Xuan

5 He Zhuojia (CHN)

Women’s Singles - QUALIFYING

1 Ser Lin Qian

2 Zhang Wanling

3 Pearlyn Koh Kai Xin

4 Prithika Pavade (FRA)

5 Kuai Man (CHN)

Men’s Doubles – MAIN DRAW

1 Chew Zhe Yu Clarence / Poh Shao Feng Ethan

2 Pang Yew En Koen / Chua Josh Shao Han

3 Beh Kun Ting / Tan Lucas

Women’s Doubles – MAIN DRAW

1 Goi Rui Xuan / Wong Xin Ru

2 Zhou Jingyi / Ser Lin Qian

3 Zhang Wanling / Koh Kai Xin Pearlyn

Mixed Doubles – MAIN DRAW

1 Pang Yew En Koen / Lin Ye

2 Chew Zhe Yu Clarence / Zeng Jian

Event details

Date: 7 to 20 March

Venue: OCBC Arena, Singapore Sports Hub

Tickets: go.gov.sg/wttsingaporesmashticket

Tickets start from $10 for qualifying matches and $18 for main draw matches. All spectators to Singapore Smash 2022 are to abide by the necessary Safe Management Measures. Spectators attending Singapore Smash must be fully vaccinated and submit a negative self-administered ART test result before entry into OCBC Arena. Please visit go.gov.sg/wttsingaporesmashticket for more information.