Europe Smash Sweden August 14-24 2025

[turbozed]

Big win for the Singaporeans Pang/Quek over Liang/Wen. Upsets continue even on the MD side.

 

[turbozed]

Woots finally a win to Singapore but not without some controversy.

SG: We served just nicely on the line.
CHN: No, it didn't cross the line.

CHN: It was an edge ball.
SG: No, it was side.

I guess the upside is the umpire was firm in her decisions and didn't entertain any disputes lolll

Umpire was great there. If you watch the replay, the umpire was clearly watching for edge contact. When it hit the side she immediately signalled side and, as you said, was firm about it with no room for argument.

From my POV, both calls were correct.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Tomo must have run out of his Zyre stock.

it probably can't last too many days... so which day was his first match....

 

[turbozed]

Was a great start for Wan/Winter starting off with a 8-4 lead. Then they went to go 1-14 after that. Incredibly rough streak

 

[d3nium]

Hashimoto is an artist 🤩

 

[zeio]

For men's single bracket, we've reached round 16. Among 16 survivors, we see,
4 Gemans,
3 Japanese, 3 Koreans
and noticeably,
only 1 Chinese in LSD

Are we seeing the declining of table tennis empire and entering a multi-polar world? Considering the last WTT champion event, there was also a lone Chinese WCQ but at the semi stage. This time, the lone wolf happens only at much earlier stage. The answer is clear, table tennis has reached parity, a very welcoming sign for global audience, at least in men.

For women, Chinese still maintains her solid dominance for now. European women still lacks behind in quite a distance. Japanese girls, especially younger ones(Miwa, Odo, etc) need to have another burst of growth to truly challenge the Chinese. It takes time.

I don't know about that. The men's side has always been more competitive.

Honestly, you seriously need to count all the major WTT titles (GS, CF and CS) China has won since its inception in 2021 before saying that. So far, non-CNT players have only won 4 CS titles, 2 for Harimoto, 1 for LYJ and 1 for F. Lebrun. Europe Smash 2025 could be the first time a non-CNT player wins a GS title, but it hardly bucks the trend.

In terms of ITTF and ATTU titles after Paris 2024, other than MS of ATTC 2024 which was right after China Smash 2024 (they didn't take part in ATTC 2021 because of National Games and bombed all the seeds in 2023), World Cup 2025 (they value it the least out of the 3 majors), and MD of WTTC 2025 (they haven't really worked on it for years), China has won everything that they participated in. Like Harimoto commented after Hayata's ugly win over Miwa at WTT CS Yokohama 2025, it was a good lesson because it was not a significant tournament like the Olympics and WTTC.

And as I pointed out, China is in the middle of a transition and like WH said in a recent interview, it's been many years since they were in this scenario where the old are not there to lead the young. Also, they would've been resting at this time of the year in the past,

p.s.
Keep in mind in the first half of the 2000s, we had 3 non-CNT players from 3 associations winning the World Cup (2002 and 2005) (2 to 3 players per association), WTTC (2003) (7 players per association), and Olympics (2004) (3 players per NOC). There were way more if counting medalists.

 

[linuques]

Honoka's game is absolutely beautiful, just enthralling! Very refreshing to see a defender taking on the top CN ladies toe-to-toe and making them sweat.
I don't recall seeing Shasha sweat so much as when they last played. At certain point Shasha was actually panting, she looked exhausted.

WYD is a tough cookie, but whatever happens in this game, huge props to Hashimoto, the way she took those first 2 games!

 

[piligrim]

it probably can't last too many days... so which day was his first match....

They don't changed rubbers every day or 2 days?

 

[turbozed]

Honoka's coach looks like a high schooler lol

 

[Catenaccio]

Hashimoto wins again against WYD!

Same as the previous encounter, the match point was insane. Hashimoto's strawberry push is amazing -- so difficult to tell when it's side/back or side/top.

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

Another awesome performance from Honoka! GOAT female chopper... not even close.

 

[turbozed]

All my homies love Honoka.

And I think every (neutral) person in that arena became a fan of Honoka after that match too.

That said, Honoka could've made it a bit easier on herself by playing a little less aggressive. Lot of missed FHs made it closer than it should've been.

 

[zeio]

WS R16
WYD (5) 1-3 Hashimoto (11) (-7, -6, 7, -10)
It almost feels like WYD is kept on the team just to give the rest of the world a false hope...

 

[Metaxa]

All my homies love Honoka.

And I think every (neutral) person in that arena became a fan of Honoka after that match too.

Amazing! That last point was

 

[NextLevel]

WS R16
WYD (5) 1-3 Hashimoto (11) (-7, -6, 7, -10)
It almost feels like WYD is kept on the team just to give the rest of the world a false hope...

WYD played really well this time. I think her improvements in this match while ultimately futile might lead to an improvement in her overall game.

 

[NextLevel]

All my homies love Honoka.

And I think every (neutral) person in that arena became a fan of Honoka after that match too.

That said, Honoka could've made it a bit easier on herself by playing a little less aggressive. Lot of missed FHs made it closer than it should've been.

That was a result of Wang Yidi's unexpected and improving consistency putting pressure on her. If Honoka doesn't take those shots, then she loses the feeling of control.

 

[ThePongCommenter]

Another awesome performance from Honoka! GOAT female chopper... not even close.

Not even close to Han Ying? Serious question, you know women's TT more than I do...

 

[NextLevel]

Honoka's coach looks like a high schooler lol

I think she is a Morizono, they all look like kids in that family.

 

[NextLevel]

Not even close to Han Ying? Serious question, you know women's TT more than I do...

It's all in the moment, the greatest of all time is always born yesterday...

 

[zeio]

WYD played really well this time. I think her improvements in this match while ultimately futile might lead to an improvement in her overall game.

It shows the CNT has been "profiling" Hashimoto. Will only get harder for Hashimoto but it also creates a good distraction for the other JNT women. Whether they could take advantage of depends how willing they are to cooperate as a team, which I think is at the lowest point in recent times.