Chinese Table Tennis Players Focus on National Games as WTT Star Contender Chennai 2025 Approaches

In the lead-up to the WTT Star Contender Chennai 2025 scheduled for March 25, the absence of any Chinese mainland players is notable. According to reports from china.com, this strategic decision is aimed at allowing athletes to better prepare for the qualifications for the National Games taking place this year. The Chennai tournament, initially excluded from the 2024 WTT schedule, was later added as a Challenge event to fill gaps in the Asian calendar.

Despite China's absence, the event will still feature several prominent athletes from other countries. The Japanese team is sending strong competitors like Tomokazu Harimoto and Hina Hayata, while South Korea's Shin Yubin and Jang Woojin and Brazil's Hugo Calderano are also among those confirmed to participate. On the same day, Chinese stars such as Wang Chuqin, Sun Yingsha, Fan Zhendong, and Chen Meng are expected to showcase their skills at the WTT Chongqing Champions event happening on March 11, where they'll face off against players like Tomokazu Harimoto and Hina Hayata.

Additionally, the WTT has recently updated its participation regulations by eliminating mandatory attendance for Grand Smash events. Under the new policy, players will be invited to three Grand Smash tournaments in 2025 and can receive exemptions for up to two Champions events each year, promoting more flexible scheduling. The first event reflecting these changes is the WTT Incheon Champions set for April 1-6, highlighting the evolving landscape of international table tennis competition.