The draw ceremony for the WTT Finals Hong Kong took place today (Dec. 8) at 4 p.m. Chinese national team stars Wang Chuqin and Wang Manyu, HK, China's table tennis players Wong Chun-ting and Doo Hoi-kem, French player Simon Gauzy, and South Korea's Joo Cheonhui served as guest participants to complete the draw.
This year's draw design incorporated elements of HK's culinary culture, with the draw tokens shaped like classic dim sum dishes such as char siu bao, fish siu mai, and crystal shrimp dumplings, adding a unique local flair to the event.
Exciting matchups revealed
In the mixed doubles category, host players Wong Chun-ting and Doo Hoi-kem were drawn into Group 1 alongside Wang Chuqin/Sun Yingsha and Lin Shidong/Kuai Man.
In men's singles, China has four players competing. Wang Chuqin is positioned in the top half of the draw and will face Japan's Sora Matsushima in the first round. Meanwhile, the bottom half features a "domestic showdown," with Lin Shidong and Liang Jingkun clashing in their opening match.
In women's singles, seven players from China's national team will compete. In a blockbuster first-round match, Sun Yingsha will face Wang Yidi, while Wang Manyu is set to take on Japan's Miwa Harimoto once again.
Players: Cherishing the opportunity, fighting for every match
Several players shared their thoughts on the draw. HK duo Wong Chun-ting and Doo Hoi-kem expressed their pride in competing at their home venue, the Hong Kong Coliseum. Doo humorously noted that she usually attends concerts at the venue, but this time, she's thrilled to be a competitor and looks forward to the enthusiastic support of the crowd. Wong highlighted the growing global popularity of table tennis and HK's strong commitment to the sport, hoping he and his partner can deliver an outstanding performance on home soil.
French player Simon Gauzy, in an interview with DotDotNews following the ceremony, said his last visit to HK was in 2018 or 2019, and he feels proud to return as a top-16 ranked player. He shared that he has already sampled local delicacies and visited major shopping centers. While acknowledging the constant travel and pressure of professional competition often leave little time to explore cities, he hopes to make the most of this trip to experience HK's unique culture. Regarding the competition, Gauzy identified world number one Wang Chuqin as his toughest opponent and expressed his determination to perform at his best.
As one of the title favorites, Wang Chuqin described HK as a city he admires for its vibrant atmosphere and excellent environment. Despite limited preparation time, he is eager to showcase his best form at the Hong Kong Coliseum. Wang Manyu, reflecting on her 2025 season, emphasized that the Finals bring together the year's top-performing players, making every match a tough challenge. She plans to stay focused and give it her all. South Korea's Joo Cheonhui also expressed her honor in participating in the Finals and vowed to deliver her best performance.
This year's WTT Finals will be held at the Hong Kong Coliseum from Dec. 10 to Dec. 14, bringing together the world's top table tennis players for what promises to be a series of thrilling, high-level matchups.
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