Chinese star Sun Yingsha extends fine start to season with last 8 spot at Singapore Smash

Chinese table tennis star Sun Yingsha continued her impressive early-season form, breezing into the quarter-finals of the Singapore Smash on Friday.

The world No 1, who is defending champion, beat compatriot Shi Xunyao 11-2, 7-11, 11-7, 11-6 in little more than 35 minutes at The Kallang to set up a last-eight clash with Hina Hayata.

The Japanese world No 10 had earlier edged past Kuai Man in a thrilling five-game battle, with the world No 5 from Jiangsu the only Chinese casualty of the day.

Chen Yi dispatched Honoka Hashimoto 3-0 to join compatriot Chen Xintong in the final eight, while Wang Yidi and 2024 champion Wang Manyu completed the five-strong Chinese line-up at the Singapore event.

Having bowed out of the year-ending WTT Finals in Hong Kong last December because of an injury, Hebei native Sun played her first tournament of the year earlier this month in Haikou, where she captured her first Asian Cup title with seven straight wins, including beating long-term rival Wang Manyu 4-3 in a nail-biting final.

The decorated player had got the better of qualifier Orawan Paranang of Thailand and Romanian Elizabeta Samara in previous rounds.

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