Singapore Smash to have CNY start in 2025, event set to stay for 5 more years

SINGAPORE – The Year of the Snake will begin with a smash for Singapore’s table tennis players, who will be in action from the second day of Chinese New Year at the Jan 30-Feb 9 Singapore Smash.

On Nov 12, World Table Tennis (WTT) unveiled its 2025 calendar, which includes four Grand Smashes – the sport’s equivalent of its Majors – for the first time. The WTT Champions Series has also been increased from five to six events for the season.

Singapore will host the first Grand Smash in 2025, with the series to travel to the United States from July 3 to 13, a new location from Aug 14 to 24, before ending at the Sept 25-Oct 5 China Smash. The Saudi Smash, which was held for the first time in 2024, is not on the calendar.

In another boost for the Republic, The Straits Times understands that national sports agency Sport Singapore is working with WTT – the commercial arm of the International Table Tennis Federation – on a five-year extension for the event, which made its debut here in 2022.

With the tournament to kick off amid the festivities – the qualifiers are from Jan 30 to Feb 1 and the main draw starts on Feb 2 – Singapore’s world No. 83 Izaac Quek is looking forward to playing in front of a big crowd at the OCBC Arena.

The 18-year-old, who is likely to compete in the main draw, said: “It doesn’t affect me much. Even though it’s the CNY period, it’s the same for me. I have a few days before that to celebrate before my tournament starts, but I still have to focus on preparing myself for the tournament.

“The Singapore Smash is the one tournament I look forward to and enjoy playing the most throughout the year because I would be playing in one of the highest-level international tournaments in front of a home crowd and I really enjoy the feeling.”

Teammate Koen Pang, 22, who is ranked 123rd in the world, added: “This is a big stage for us to have a chance to play against the big guns, and I managed to learn many good lessons from the people I played against at the Singapore Smash.”

Noting that the players are “very accustomed to competing during the CNY period”, the Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) said that they will be given time off from training to have reunion dinner with their families.

Hongbao, in the form of prize money and ranking points, await the players at the US$1.5 million (S$2 million) event.

In 2023, Quek stunned India’s Commonwealth Games champion Sharath Kamal Achanta and Sweden’s 2019 World Championships silver medallist Mattias Falck before losing to China’s then world No. 3 Wang Chuqin in the last 16. He earned US$15,000 and 175 ranking points, which helped him break into the world’s top 100.

Similarly, Pang also cracked the top 100 after reaching the round of 32 to pocket US$10,000 and 90 points.

A year later, the duo made it to the men’s doubles quarter-finals to claim US$3,500 and 350 points. They have since climbed to a career-high world No. 10.

An STTA spokesperson said: “This event offers our players a valuable opportunity to compete against the world’s best. With the additional wild cards, even some of our lower-ranked players will have the chance to participate in the Singapore Smash.

“It also gives our fans the exciting opportunity to watch our players in action right here at home.

“For the STTA, this is a great moment to elevate our players’ profiles and increase their visibility.”