Fan Zhendong (L) and Sun Yingsha of China pose with their trophies after winning the men's and the women's singles finals at the World Table Tennis Chongqing Champions in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, June 3, 2024. /CFP
Fan Zhendong and Sun Yingsha of China won the men's and the women's singles titles respectively at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Chongqing Champions in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on Monday.
Sun's opponent in the final was her compatriot Wang Manyu. The match was tightly contested from the first game as the score went all the way to 11-11 before Wang took it 13-11. Sun responded a 11-7 in the second game, but she made too many errors in the following game and lost it 11-6.
Having adjusted quickly, Sun continued to play better and dragged the match into decisive game seven. Though her lead was wiped out by Wang, who tied it 8-8, Sun remained calm, kept the game in her control and won it 11-9 in the end to secure the final victory 4-3.
Fan Zhendong reacts after scoring a point in his men's singles final against Wang Chuqin of China at the World Table Tennis Chongqing Champions in Chongqing, June 3, 2024. /CFP
Fan also faced a Chinese player, Wang Chuqin, in his singles final win. Fan was in a superb form from the beginning and won both the first two games 11-9. The pressure affected Wang badly and cost him the third game 11-2.
However, the World No. 4 managed to bounce back in game four. He won three straight games to tie it at 3-3. Despite a rally, Fan was not distracted and continued to play at his own pace before taking the decisive game 11-4, adding another title.
The WTT Chongqing Champions was the final international tournament before the coming Olympic Games in Paris. Both Sun and Fan said that they will focus on preparing for the games in the following days.