Video: TT11TV via YouTube
China won the men's team title at the 2026 ITTF-ATTU Asian Championships in Tashkent on 22 October, their fourth in a row, but Japan came from behind to beat China 3-2 in the women's final.
China fielded a young squad without Wang Chuqin, Sun Yingsha or Wang Manyu, as part of a generational change ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, according to Xinhua. The men still swept South Korea 3-0 in the final. Zhou Qihao beat defensive player Kang Dong-soo 3-1, Lin Shidong beat Park Gyu-hyeon 3-0 and Xiang Peng sealed it with a 3-1 win over Park Gang-hyeon.
South Korea had reached the final by beating Japan 3-1, despite Japan's line-up including world No.1 Sora Matsushima and Tomokazu Harimoto. China beat Chinese Taipei 3-1 in the other semi-final.
The women's final was the shock of the week. Japan's defensive specialist Honoka Hashimoto opened by beating Chen Yi in straight games. Wang Yidi levelled by beating Miwa Harimoto in five, and Kuai Man put China 2-1 up with a 3-0 win over Hina Hayata. Harimoto then beat Chen Yi 3-0, and Hashimoto completed the comeback with a 3-1 win over Wang Yidi in the deciding match.
It continues a strong month for defensive players: at China Smash, Hitomi Sato became the first chopper to reach a WTT Grand Smash final. Defensive play also decided the men's final's opening match, where Zhou Qihao had to break down Kang Dong-soo's chop.
China's doubles players also had a good day on 22 October, with all six of their pairs advancing. In the mixed doubles, Huang Youzheng and Chen Yi beat Thailand's Thitaphat Preechayan and Kulapassr Vijitviriyagul 3-1, and Yuan Licen and Wang Yidi beat Hong Kong's Yiu Kwan To and Ng Wing Lam 3-0 to reach the quarter-finals. Lin Shidong/Huang Youzheng and Wen Ruibo/Yuan Licen reached the last 16 of the men's doubles. The mixed doubles champions were due to be crowned on Friday 23 October, with the singles to follow.
Kit corner
Lin Shidong uses a DHS Hurricane 3 forehand, while Matsushima plays Butterfly Zyre 03 on his backhand. If you play a defensive game like Hashimoto, see our rubber range, including long pimples.
Sources: IANS / Xinhua, 22 Oct 2026 · Xinhua, 11 Oct 2026 (Sato)
