Singapore Paddlers Cause Major Upsets on Opening Day of Singapore Smash 2026
- johnmichaelyeong
- 13 hours ago
- 3 min read
Ser Lin Qian Stuns World No. 58 Zhang Mo in Career-Best Win as Singapore Men’s Doubles Pair Stage Gritty Comeback
SINGAPORE, 23 February 2026 - The Singapore Smash 2026 roared into life at the OCBC Arena, with local table tennis players delivering stunning upsets that electrified the home crowd.
On the first day of the World Table Tennis (WTT) Singapore Smash main draw, Singapore paddlers proved they can compete with the world’s best — and win.
From breakthrough singles victories to dramatic doubles comebacks, opening day action at the Singapore Smash showcased grit, preparation and fearless belief from Team Singapore.
Ser Lin Qian Stuns World No. 58 Zhang Mo in Career-Best Win
The headline moment came courtesy of 19-year-old wildcard Ser Lin Qian, who produced one of the biggest upsets of the tournament’s opening round.
Ranked world No. 126, Ser defeated Canada’s world No. 58 Zhang Mo in a thrilling five-game battle (11-5, 13-15, 9-11, 12-10, 12-10) in the women’s singles round of 64 at the Singapore Smash.
Tactical Preparation Pays Off
Facing the experienced Zhang, known for her forehand pimple setup, Ser worked extensively with national coach Jing Junhong, who replicated Zhang’s style in training. That meticulous preparation proved decisive.
At 10-10 in the final game, the pressure was immense. Yet Ser trusted her execution and composure to clinch the match — a defining moment in her young career.
The emotional victory marks Ser’s first-ever main draw win at the Singapore Smash and propels her into the round of 32 for the first time.
Next up: a formidable test against China’s world No. 8 Chen Yi on Tuesday, who earlier defeated Austria’s Sofia Polcanova 3-1.
Singapore Men’s Doubles Pair Stage Gritty Comeback
Singapore’s resurgence continued in the men’s doubles, where world No. 104 duo Clarence Chew and Josh Chua stunned 18th-ranked Slovak pair Lubomir Pistej and Jakub Zelinka.
Twice coming from behind, the Singaporeans secured a 3-2 victory (3-11, 13-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-6) in the round of 32.
Having previously lost 3-1 to the Slovakians, Chew and Chua showed tactical growth and improved adaptability — key SEO themes around “Singapore doubles comeback” and “Singapore Smash upsets.”
They now face a daunting round-of-16 clash against China’s world No. 6 pairing Lin Shidong and Huang Youzheng.
Tough Draws for Zeng Jian and Izaac Quek
Not all results went Singapore’s way on opening day.
World No. 33 Zeng Jian fell to defending champion and world No. 2 Wang Manyu in straight games. Wang, a former Singapore Smash singles and doubles champion, displayed her trademark all-round dominance.
Meanwhile, Singapore’s rising star Izaac Quek faced a challenging day:
Lost in mixed doubles alongside Ser Lin Qian to Germany’s Qiu Dang and Sabine Winter
Fell 3-1 in men’s singles to Japan’s world No. 7 Sora Matsushima
However, Quek now shifts focus to men’s doubles with Koen Pang, where the world No. 4 Singapore pairing enters the round of 16 as one of the tournament’s strongest contenders.
Pang and Zeng Deliver Mixed Doubles Fightback
The SEA Games mixed doubles champions, Pang and Zeng, showcased resilience by overturning a first-game deficit to beat Australia’s Nicholas Lum and Liu Yangzi 3-1.
They now prepare for a clash against India’s Manush Shah and Diya Chitale, underlining Singapore’s growing competitiveness across multiple disciplines at the Singapore Smash.
Global Stars Advance as Tournament Heats Up
While Singapore paddlers grabbed headlines, the tournament favourites also progressed smoothly.
Men’s world No. 1 Wang Chuqin cruised past Australia’s Finn Luu to set up a clash with Japan’s Shunsuke Togami.
In the women’s singles: China’s Chen Xingtong advanced confidently, while Japan’s Miwa Harimoto moved into the last 32 and Australia’s Constantina Psihogios and Egypt’s Hana Goda await their respective challenges.
Singapore Smash 2026: A Statement of Intent for Local Table Tennis
Opening day of the Singapore Smash 2026 was more than just an early-round spectacle — it was a statement.
From Ser Lin Qian’s career-defining win to dramatic doubles comebacks, Singapore’s paddlers demonstrated tactical maturity, mental resilience, growing international competitiveness, and depth across singles and doubles events.
With strong home support at the OCBC Arena in The Kallang, the momentum could fuel even more surprises as the tournament progresses.
If Day 1 is any indication, the Singapore Smash 2026 upsets may just be getting started. #SingaporeSmash #ExperienceWTT