Wang Chuqin Leads Full-Strength Chinese Team into WTT US Smash as Los Angeles Olympic Test Looms

LOS ANGELES, June 24, 2026 (LAPost) — With the WTT US Smash set to begin in just days, the Chinese national table tennis team has arrived in Southern California for final preparations ahead of one of the most significant events on the international calendar. Held at the Ontario Convention Center in Southern California, the tournament arrives at a pivotal stage in the build-up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games and is widely viewed as an important benchmark event in the Olympic cycle. The tournament offers not only valuable world ranking points and prize money, but also a rare opportunity for athletes to familiarize themselves with the Olympic competition environment.

Despite the late withdrawal of vice captain Liang Jingkun due to injury, China will field a full-strength lineup led by newly appointed men’s team captain Wang Chuqin and women’s world No. 1 Sun Yingsha, with ambitions of reclaiming dominance across all five disciplines.

Wang Chuqin Takes Charge in First Major Event as Men’s Team Captain

One of the biggest storylines entering the tournament is Wang Chuqin’s first international appearance as captain of the Chinese men’s team.

The defending men’s singles champion will carry increased responsibility following Liang’s withdrawal. In addition to pursuing another title, Wang is expected to serve as the leader of a relatively young Chinese men’s squad.

China’s men’s singles roster features Wang Chuqin, Lin Shidong, Wen Ruibo, Zhou Qihao, and Chen Yuanyu in the main draw, while Huang Youzheng will begin his campaign in the qualifying rounds.

The competition will be fierce. Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto, France’s Lebrun brothers Félix and Alexis, Sweden’s Olympic silver medalist Truls Möregårdh, and Chinese Taipei star Lin Yun-Ju headline a strong international field. In this environment, Wang and world No. 1 Lin Shidong are widely viewed as China’s leading hopes for the men’s singles title.

Return of the “Shatou” Partnership Headlines Mixed Doubles

Perhaps the most anticipated event of the tournament will be the reunion of Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha in mixed doubles.

Known affectionately by fans as the “Shatou” combination, the pair has dominated international mixed doubles in recent years, winning multiple World Table Tennis Championships titles and establishing themselves as one of the most successful partnerships in the sport.

The duo has not competed together internationally since last year’s season-ending events, making their reunion in Los Angeles one of the tournament’s marquee attractions. Their return is also seen as an important step in China’s preparations for the 2028 Olympic cycle.

China will also field Wen Ruibo and Kuai Man in mixed doubles, along with a cross-association pairing featuring American player Bota and China’s Qin Yuxuan.

Although strong challenges are expected from South Korea’s Lim Jong-hoon and Shin Yu-bin, several Japanese pairings, and top European combinations, Wang and Sun remain among the favorites to capture the mixed doubles crown.

Powerful Women’s Squad Blends Experience and Youth

China’s women’s team once again enters the competition with remarkable depth.

Eight Chinese players have secured direct entry into the women’s singles main draw: Sun Yingsha, Wang Manyu, Chen Xingtong, Wang Yidi, Chen Yi, Kuai Man, Shi Xunyao, and Qin Yuxuan.

The roster combines established stars with emerging talent, allowing China to pursue titles while continuing to develop the next generation of players.

World No. 1 Sun Yingsha remains one of the leading contenders for the women’s singles championship, while Wang Manyu, Wang Yidi, and Chen Xingtong provide additional championship-caliber depth.

Particular attention will be paid to young players such as Chen Yi and Kuai Man, who will gain valuable experience competing against the world’s best on one of table tennis’ biggest stages.

In women’s doubles, Wang Manyu and Kuai Man continue their successful partnership that previously delivered major international titles. Meanwhile, Wang Yidi teams up with Chen Yi in a pairing widely viewed as part of head coach Ma Lin’s strategy to accelerate the younger player’s development through competition alongside a veteran world-class teammate.

Cross-Association Partnerships Continue the Spirit of Ping-Pong Diplomacy

Another distinctive feature of this year’s US Smash is the inclusion of cross-association pairings involving Chinese and American players.

Chinese player Xue Fei will partner American star Kanak Jha in men’s doubles, while Qin Yuxuan will team up with American player Bota in mixed doubles. Both pairings received wild-card entries from tournament organizers.

The collaborations reflect the enduring legacy of “Ping-Pong Diplomacy,” which helped open relations between China and the United States more than five decades ago.

Cross-association partnerships have become increasingly common in international table tennis. At the 2021 World Championships in Houston, China’s Lin Gaoyuan and Wang Manyu partnered American players Lily Zhang and Kanak Jha in mixed doubles, earning positive responses from fans and officials alike.

By continuing this tradition, the WTT US Smash highlights not only elite competition but also the role of sport in fostering international friendship and cooperation.

More Than a Tournament: An Olympic Preview

Although this year’s tournament is being held at the Ontario Convention Center in Southern California’s Inland Empire region—rather than the official table tennis venue for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, the Los Angeles Convention Center—the event is nonetheless viewed as one of the most significant international competitions in the lead-up to LA28.

For Team China, the tournament represents far more than an opportunity to collect titles, prize money, and ranking points. It also serves as an important platform to evaluate the team’s competitive form, assess the development of younger players, and refine preparations for the Olympic cycle.

Having just completed a 13-hour trans-Pacific flight and facing a 14-hour time difference, Chinese players are currently focused on acclimating to local conditions and recovering physically before competition begins. The coaching staff is expected to use the event as a key benchmark to evaluate both established stars and emerging talents against world-class opposition.

Looking back at the inaugural WTT US Smash in 2025, Team China captured three titles but fell short in the women’s singles and men’s doubles events. One year later, with the tournament relocated to Southern California, China has once again sent a full-strength squad. The objective extends beyond ranking points and prize money; it is also an opportunity to reinforce the nation’s position at the forefront of world table tennis during a crucial stage of the road to Los Angeles 2028.

From Wang Chuqin’s first international assignment as captain of the Chinese men’s team, to the highly anticipated reunion of the celebrated mixed doubles pairing of Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha; from the continued development of China’s next generation of players, to the participation of cross-association Chinese-American pairings that carry forward the legacy of “Ping-Pong Diplomacy,” the 2026 WTT US Smash has become much more than a regular tour event. It offers a valuable window into the evolving landscape of international table tennis and the Olympic preparations of the world’s leading teams.

(By: Richard Ren/LAPost)