The World Table Tennis (WTT) Finals commenced yesterday at the Hong Kong Coliseum in Hung Hom, attracting significant local enthusiasm. Spectators packed the venue well in advance of the initial matches.
This five-day competition, the concluding event on the WTT schedule, includes men's and women's singles, along with mixed doubles, and assembles some of the sport's most formidable athletes in a display of global talent.
The first day's events highlighted gripping mixed doubles contests. Japan's Sora Matsushima and Miwa Harimoto narrowly defeated Spain's Alvaro Robles and Maria Xiao in a close match, with scores of 11-9, 11-9, and 15-13.
In a separate Group B match, a South Korean team achieved a straight-set triumph over their counterparts from Brazil.
Hong Kong's Wong Chun-ting and Doo Hoi-kem enjoyed considerable backing from the home crowd as they faced China's Lin Shidong and Kuai Man in their opening group-stage encounter but were defeated 0-3.
China's leading male and female singles players, Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha, partnered in mixed doubles against India's Manush Shah and Diya Chitale, claiming a dominant 3-0 victory to begin their tournament journey.
The ambiance within the Coliseum mirrored the city's fervor for table tennis. A retired woman, present to support Doo Hoi-kem, stated that she appreciated "the athletes' efforts more than the outcome." Her companion, a long-standing supporter of the Chinese national team since the 1980s, commented that witnessing both the Chinese and Hong Kong teams compete locally was "worth the expense," despite the increased cost of tickets.
Among the attendees was a supporter from Guangdong who traveled specifically to cheer on Taiwan’s Lin Yun-ju, characterizing him as a "quiet threat" due to his composed attitude and accuracy during play. She complimented the Hong Kong Coliseum's amenities and ease of access, expressing her desire for the city to host additional major sporting competitions in the future.