SERVING UP TOUGH DRAWS

Elite opponents stand in the way of local players at Singapore Smash

- Melvyn Teoh

Ser Lin Qian (right) of Singapore taking a wefie with her hair and nails sponsor Kianne Lim after the singles draw for the 2026 WTT Singapore Smash at Resorts World Sentosa on Feb 20. ST PHOTO: KELVIN LIM

(ST PHOTO: KELVIN LIM)

As the Republic welcomes the world's top table tennis players in the Year of the Fire Horse, some of its home hopefuls are bracing for a fiery battle when the World Table Tennis (WTT) Singapore Smash kicks off the main draw on Feb 22.

Singapore's top-ranked women's singles player, world No. 33 Zeng Jian, had the worst luck of the draw conducted at the Resorts World Sentosa on Feb 20. The 29-year-old will face China's second-seeded Wang Manyu in the first round.

The US$1.55 million (S$1.97 million) event, which will be held at The Kallang's OCBC Arena, is the first Grand Smash event of 2026 on WTT's calendar.

Zeng, whose current ranking is her highest in eight years, remained cool despite the tough draw. She said: "I don't really have any opinion on the draw, but I'll just play my usual game and try to learn as much as possible."

Teammate and men's singles world No. 143 Izaac Quek, who won three golds at the recent SEA Games, will also face an uphill challenge against seventh-ranked Sora Matsushima of Japan. World No. 181 Koen Pang will play Germany's 22nd-ranked Patrick Franziska, while Josh Chua (243rd) faces Denmark's Jonathan Groth (38th).