Former World Champion Wang Faces Romanian Star
Wang Manyu vs Bernadette Szocs | 11:40 (GMT+3)
A familiar name returns to the hunt for global glory as China’s Wang Manyu, the 2021 Women’s Singles World Champion, aims to reclaim the prestigious title in Doha. The second seed has her sights firmly set on adding another World Championships crown to her collection, but faces a determined challenge from Romania’s Bernadette Szocs.
Szocs finds herself in uncharted territory, chasing history as she looks to reach her first-ever quarterfinal at the World Championships Finals. The Romanian has shown impressive form throughout the tournament and will be eager to continue her breakthrough run.
Their most recent encounter provides a tantalising preview of what’s to come. When they last met, Wang was forced to dig deep to hold off a spirited comeback from Szocs in an epic seven-game thriller. With both players having everything to play for in this high-stakes clash, another memorable contest awaits.
Continental Rivals Renew Compelling Rivalry
Hugo Calderano vs Quadri Aruna | 14:30 (GMT+3)
Two continental pioneers collide as Brazil’s Hugo Calderano faces Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna in what promises to be one of the day’s most captivating encounters. This meeting carries extra significance as both men have shattered barriers for their respective continents.
Calderano made headlines recently by becoming the first player from the Americas to win the ITTF Men’s World Cup, whilst Aruna remains a beacon of inspiration for African athletes following his historic quarterfinal appearance at the 2021 World Championships – the first African player to reach that stage in Men’s Singles.
Their recent history suggests a tight contest ahead. Though Calderano holds the upper hand from their last meeting earlier this year, Aruna has shown he can turn the tables when it matters most. The Nigerian’s memorable comeback from two games down to defeat the Brazilian in their previous World Championships encounter serves as a reminder that anything can happen when these two meet on table tennis’ biggest stage.
Defending Champion Faces Determined Korean Challenge
Sun Yingsha vs Shin Yubin | 19:00 (GMT+3)
The reigning Women’s Singles champion and world number one Sun Yingsha continues her title defence against Korea Republic’s Shin Yubin in what could prove to be her sternest test yet.
Sun enters this encounter in sublime form, having enjoyed a near-perfect season with just one singles defeat. Her remarkable consistency has seen her maintain her position as world number one for 149 consecutive weeks, establishing her as the undisputed queen of women’s table tennis.
Shin presents an intriguing challenge, despite never having defeated Sun in their six previous encounters. Five of those meetings ended in straight-game defeats for the Korean, including their clash at the same stage two years ago. However, Shin’s impressive run to the round of 16 suggests she may finally be ready to trouble the champion.
As Sun looks to take another step towards retaining her crown and Shin seeks to rewrite their head-to-head history, this encounter promises to be a fascinating battle between experience and ambition.
The quarterfinal places are within touching distance, and with such compelling matchups on offer, Day 6 is set to deliver more memorable moments at the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025.
