Baldwin Chan Advances to WTT US Smash Main Draw as Liu Guodong Guides Hong Kong Rising Star from Courtside

LAPost / Ontario, California (Reported by Richard Ren) – June 27, 2026 — The qualification rounds of the 2026 WTT US Smash continued Saturday at the Ontario Convention Centre in Southern California. Hong Kong’s Baldwin Chan (Chen Haohua) battled through a hand injury to defeat China’s promising young player Huang Youzheng in straight games (3-0), earning a coveted place in the men’s singles main draw.

Chan secured the victory with game scores of 17-15, 11-8, 13-11 in what was widely regarded as one of the most exciting matches of the qualification tournament. Two of the three games were decided by only the narrowest of margins, with Chan displaying remarkable composure during the critical points.

Overseeing the Hong Kong team from the coaching bench was renowned Chinese table tennis coach Liu Guodong. Known for his humble personality and understated style, Liu remained intensely focused throughout the match, frequently discussing tactics with Chan and providing key adjustments during timeouts and between games. His calm guidance proved instrumental as Chan repeatedly fought back under pressure.

For many table tennis fans, Liu Guodong is best known as the elder brother of Olympic champion and former Chinese Table Tennis Association president Liu Guoliang. However, Liu Guodong has built an impressive legacy of his own and is widely respected as one of the sport’s accomplished coaches.

A former member of China’s national team, Liu transitioned into coaching after retiring as a player and has developed numerous world-class athletes. From 2003 to 2008, he served as head coach of Singapore’s national team, leading one of the country’s most successful eras in table tennis history. At the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Liu guided Singapore’s women’s team to the Olympic silver medal, ending China’s long-standing dominance of the women’s team event. Singapore also captured the women’s singles bronze medal that year, marking one of the nation’s greatest achievements in international table tennis. Liu later coached both the Chinese women’s national team and the Hong Kong team, continuing to develop elite players on the Asian and world stages.

Unlike his younger brother Liu Guoliang, who is known for his energetic courtside presence and emotional leadership, Liu Guodong has earned a reputation for his calm, meticulous coaching style. Rather than dramatic gestures, he emphasizes tactical precision, psychological stability, and thoughtful adjustments—qualities that have played a significant role in the steady rise of Hong Kong’s younger generation of players.

Saturday’s match featured two left-handed shakehand players born in the 2000s. Chan, born in December 2004, and Huang, born in June 2005, are close in age and possess similar playing styles, producing a high-quality contest from the opening point.

The opening game remained deadlocked throughout, with the score tied repeatedly at 3-3, 6-6, 9-9, and eventually 15-15. Although Huang created several opportunities to close out the game, Chan remained composed under pressure and captured the crucial points to take the opener 17-15.

Chan established control in the second game, pulling away midway through with a string of consecutive points before closing it out 11-8.

The third game was equally dramatic. Huang led 8-5 and later held two game points at 10-8, but Chan once again demonstrated exceptional mental toughness, winning four of the final five points to complete a 13-11 comeback and seal the match in straight games.

Chan’s achievement was even more impressive considering he competed throughout the qualification tournament with a hand injury. After receiving a first-round bye, he defeated Canadian veteran Eugene Wang 3-1 before sweeping Huang 3-0, advancing to the main draw with consecutive victories. Currently ranked World No. 68, Chan showcased both resilience and determination.

With the victory, Chan advances to face World No. 10 Jang Woojin of South Korea in the opening round of the men’s singles main draw. Meanwhile, Hong Kong veteran Wong Chun Ting will take on Denmark’s Jonathan Groth.

Chan has also established an increasingly impressive head-to-head record against Huang in recent WTT competition. He previously defeated Huang in men’s doubles at the 2025 WTT Sweden Smash, again in men’s doubles at the 2025 WTT Contender Zagreb, and in mixed doubles at the 2026 Singapore Smash. Saturday’s victory marked yet another milestone, making Chan one of the few players to have beaten Huang across men’s singles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles in WTT competition.

As the 2026 WTT US Smash main draw gets underway, the young Hong Kong star—continuing to mature under Liu Guodong’s experienced guidance—will now face another significant test in his rapidly developing international career.