Lin Shidong and Sun Yingsha shine with Singapore Smash singles titles

SINGAPORE – In China, Lin Shidong is known as “Little Stone” – a nickname given by table tennis fans as his name sounds like stone in Chinese.

And on Feb 9, he was solid as a rock as he came from behind to beat teammate Liang Jingkun 4-2 (9-11, 11-8, 11-8, 6-11, 11-3, 11-2) in the men’s singles final at the US$1.5 million (S$2.03 million) Singapore Smash at the OCBC Arena.

Not only did he pocket the US$75,000 winner’s cheque and cap a remarkable men’s singles, men’s doubles (with Wang Chuqin) and mixed doubles (with Kuai Man) treble, but the 19-year-old will also usurp Wang as the new men’s singles world No. 1.

Unflustered, unsmiling, as if his meteoric rise was not unexpected, Lin said: “It’s not easy to clinch all three titles here, but I gave it my all.

“Against Liang, it was tight and exciting at the start and a high-quality match. He played very well and I did my best to keep up with the tempo. Through my variation, serves and shot placement, I managed to turn the tide.

“I wasn’t thinking about the world ranking, and didn’t do any calculations before the final. To me, it’s just a number and I need to focus on playing my best instead of the world ranking.”

Lin definitely kept his eye on the ball against Liang, 28, in an initially competitive match in front of a sold-out crowd of almost 3,000 fans.

It was a tale of Lin’s sweeping backhands and Liang’s ferocious forehands in the first four games as they employed their killer moves to devastating effect in gasp-inducing rallies far from the table.

After taking the opener and then drawing level at 2-2, world No. 4 Liang thought he found a way back into the game with some devilish spinning serves, only for Lin to explode into life and claim the title by winning 22 out of the next 27 points.

Where he was once spotted queuing outside an Olympic merchandise store in Paris, there will now be a long line seeking his autograph and soundbites as he cemented his reputation as table tennis’ next big thing.

Since returning from the 2024 Paris Games, where he was a reserve, Lin has been the world’s most in-form player in the eight events he competed in, winning six men’s singles titles on the World Table Tennis tour – including the China Smash – and reaching the semi-finals at the other two tournaments.

The teenager, who looks set for a key role in the Chinese men’s team heading to Los Angeles 2028 following Fan Zhendong and Ma Long’s

withdrawal from the world ranking,

said: “After the Paris Olympics, I played in many tournaments and my form gradually picked up.

“Through competitions, I managed to find solutions and ways to win, which is a big boost to my confidence.

“This is my first time being world No. 1, so I don’t really know what to expect. In terms of responsibility, there are expectations and pressure as a Chinese player regardless of ranking, so we just have to manage our mentality well and do our best.

“As we enter the new Olympic cycle, I just want to go as high and as far as I can.”

In the women’s singles final, compatriot and fellow world No. 1 Sun Yingsha demonstrated how to handle the lofty status as she beat 21-year-old teammate Kuai 4-1 (11-8, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-6).

Despite an unexpected loss to compatriot Chen Meng in the Olympics women’s singles final, Sun is shining again as she made it back-to-back Grand Smash titles after also winning in China in October 2024.

World No. 15 Kuai had displayed her potential with her women’s doubles (with Wang Manyu) and

mixed doubles titles in Singapore,

as well as her shock sweep of defending champion Manyu in the women’s singles round of 16. But at 1-1, Sun showed she is the one who can step up almost at will.

Despite receiving a yellow card for delaying play in the third game, the 24-year-old crowd favourite responded by unleashing winners from all angles and celebrating more vocally, in contrast with her muted start.

Sun, who was triple champion at the 2023 Singapore Smash, said: “We are familiar with each other as we both train under coach Qiu Yike in the national team. Kuai Man has shown great improvement in her technique and tactics, and I had to prepare well.

“This is a great start to 2025, but it’s still a long road to the next Olympics.

“There are many competitions ahead which I will have to use as training to stay on top of my game, and the main aim is to stay healthy and in good form.”