On May 10, 2026, the women’s team final of the London World Table Tennis Championships saw Sun Yingsha deliver a masterclass performance. She secured two crucial points for the Chinese women’s team, first defeating Hina Hayata 3-0 in the second match, then sweeping Miwa Zhang 3-0 in the fourth match. Both victories came under immense pressure, as Sun Yingsha single-handedly leveled the score twice, pushing the final into a decisive fifth match.
In the opening match, Wang Manyu was stunned 3-2 by an exceptionally well-prepared Miwa Zhang. Sun Yingsha stepped up in the second match against Japan’s second singles player, Hina Hayata, where she could not afford any mistakes. Maintaining her perfect record of 18-0 against Hayata, Sun Yingsha controlled the tempo throughout, winning 11-7, 11-7, and 11-8 in straight sets. This victory restored parity for China.
However, in the third match, Kuai Man fell 1-3 to Japanese defensive specialist Honoka Hashimoto, putting China behind 1-2. The pressure mounted on Sun Yingsha as she returned for the fourth match against Japan’s top player, Miwa Zhang.
Sun Yingsha’s head-to-head record against Zhang stood at 8-1, with Zhang’s sole victory coming at the 2024 Asian Championships. In 2025, Sun Yingsha had beaten Zhang twice. This encounter in 2026 was their first of the year. Zhang showed clear improvement in the tournament, catching Wang Manyu off guard, but her new tactics were exposed. Sun Yingsha adapted swiftly, matching Zhang’s speed and aggression while leveraging her superior fundamentals.
The first game saw Sun Yingsha race to a 5-1 lead, and after Zhang scored a point, she reeled off six consecutive points to take it 11-2. In the second game, Sun Yingsha opened 3-1, then responded to a 3-3 tie with five straight points. Using spin to neutralize Zhang’s power, she secured the game 11-4. The third game began with Zhang aggressively winning the first three points, but Sun Yingsha displayed her resilience by winning four straight, forcing Zhang to call a timeout. After the break, Sun Yingsha continued to dictate play, reading Zhang’s placements and leading 8-5 before closing out 11-6, completing a comprehensive 3-0 victory.
Sun Yingsha’s back-to-back sweeps of Japan’s two main players—Hayata and Zhang—showcased her ability to perform under pressure, cementing her status as China’s current top star. She is undoubtedly the ultimate trump card in Ma Lin’s hands.
