The week-long International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Men’s and Women’s World Cup Macao 2025 presented by Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG) starts today, kicking off with top paddlers playing round-robin games.
A draw ceremony for the ITTF-sanctioned competition, which made its Macau debut last year, was held yesterday afternoon at the Galaxy International Convention Centre (GICC) in Cotai.
Comprising 96 players, with 48 players each in the men’s and women’s categories, the matches will take place at the 16,000 seat Galaxy Arena, starting with the round-robin games that run through Wednesday. The last 16, quarter finals and semi-finals will then be held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday respectively.
The finals, meanwhile, will take place on Sunday at 7:30 p.m.
Among the elite athletes competing are top-ranked players in the ITTF. These include Lin Shidong, Wang Chuqin, Harimoto Tomokazu and Liang Jingkun, who are respectively world-ranked numbers one, two, three and four in the ITTF men’s category.
The top four world ranked ITTF players in the women’s category, namely the nation’s Sun Yingsha, who is last year’s champion, Wang Manyu, Wang Yidi and Chen Xingtong, are also among those vying for the top prize.
Local athletes keen to do their best
Young local athletes Chan Chi In and Seak Hui Li are among the many paddlers competing this year, with both telling the Post in separate interviews conducted in English after yesterday’s draw ceremony that they are hoping to do their best.
Competing in the women’s category, 21-year-old Seak, who has been engaged in the sport for 13 years, said that she felt lucky to be playing in an event that features top players from around the world. And to prepare for it, the young paddler has been putting more time into training and tries to find videos of possible competitors to study how they play, hoping to do the best for herself.
Meanwhile, Chan, who is also 21 and has been playing table tennis for 11 years, added that he was excited to compete as it’s the first time he will be playing in a competition of this level. He has been practising a lot, he said, noting that he felt prepared for the week. Although he can’t say he will win, the local athlete said he hopes that he can earn more points and learn from his fellow competitors.
Lin Shidong (from left to right) Wang Chuqin, Harimoto Tomokazu and Liang Jingkun, who are respectively world-ranked numbers one, two, three and four in the ITTF men’s category, answer questions from the emcee after drawing lots yesterday at the Galaxy International Convention Centre (GICC) in Cotai.
The top four world ranked ITTF players in the women’s category, namely the nation’s Sun Yingsha (left to right), Wang Manyu, Wang Yidi and Chen Xingtong listen to the event emcee drawing lots.
Local paddlers Chan Chi In (right) and Seak Hui Li pose before speaking with reporters. – Photos: Rui Pastorin
