On the evening of 24th July Beijing time, the table tennis events at the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games concluded successfully. The Chinese women's table tennis team, comprising students from East China University of Science and Technology, fearlessly confronted formidable opponents and fought valiantly, securing an outstanding haul of two gold, three silver and two bronze medals, including the women's doubles and women's singles titles!
In the women's doubles competition, China fielded two pairs: Feier HAN/Xiaotong WANG and Yiyun YANG/Shang ZHAO.
The four players defeated the Chinese Taipei pair and the French pair respectively in the semi-finals, ultimately meeting in the final. Both teams swiftly found their rhythm in the championship match, with the opening game proving fiercely contested at 14-12. Feier and Xiaotong ultimately prevailed over their compatriots, securing China's successful defence of the women's doubles title, while Yiyun and Shang claimed the silver medal.
In the women's singles event, Xiaotong and Shang advanced smoothly to the quarter-finals.
In the quarter-finals, Xiaotong faced Japan's top women's singles player, Anka Izumi, who had defeated two Chinese players, including Xiaotong, in the women's team final. In this rematch, Xiaotong showed no fear against her formidable opponent, she neutralised the threat posed by her opponent's pimpled rubber technique while fully exploiting her own attacking strengths. Ultimately, she defeated the Japanese player 4-2, paving the way for China's eventual championship victory.
Shang defeated the Chinese Taipei player in the quarter-finals to meet Xiaotong in the semi-finals. Both players were intimately familiar with each other's playing styles, delivering a high-calibre women's table tennis showdown for the spectators with their outstanding performances. After a hard-fought seven-game battle, Shang prevailed 4-3 to advance to the final. In the final, Shang maintained her momentum, sweeping the Chinese Taipei player 4-0 to help the Chinese team successfully defend their women's singles title. Xiaotong secured the bronze medal in the women's singles event. In her post-match interview, Shang remarked, ‘After the team event, each of us was determined to give our all in the subsequent matches. This gold medal is a testament to the team's collective effort.’
In the women's team event, the Chinese squad progressed from the group stage by defeating Lebanon and Mongolia, before overcoming Slovakia, Thailand and Chinese Taipei in the knockout rounds. Having won every match without dropping a single game, they advanced to the final to face the formidable Japanese women's team. The final showcased both sides' exceptional technical prowess and tactical acumen, with numerous rallies lasting over ten exchanges. After five hard-fought matches, China ultimately fell 2-3 to their opponents, securing the silver medal in the women's team event.
In the mixed doubles competition, Chinese pairs Wang Xiaotong/Chen Junsong (Hubei University of Technology) and Han Feier/Zeng Beixun (Beijing Sport University) advanced to the semi-finals.
Xiaotong and Junsong fought hard over seven games but ultimately fell to their opponents, securing the bronze medal in the mixed doubles. Feier and Beixun defeated the Hong Kong, China pair to advance to the final. In the championship match, the Chinese pair engaged in another gruelling seven-game battle against their Japanese opponents, but ultimately suffered a narrow 3-4 defeat, claiming the silver medal in the mixed doubles event at this edition of the Universiade.
At the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games, ECUST table tennis team overcame the physical fatigue caused by competing on multiple domestic and international fronts. Players battled through illness and injury, demonstrating remarkable resilience in the face of pressure following a team defeat. They adjusted their approach with composure and determination, delivering strong performances in the women's doubles and singles events. Ultimately, they secured an outstanding haul of two gold, three silver, and two bronze medals, bringing honour to the nation.
During the pre-competition preparations, Haitao SHEN, deputy secretary of the University Party Committee, visited and offered encouragement to the coaches and athletes engaged in rigorous training. He boosted the team's morale ahead of their departure, urging the members to maintain a level-headed approach, prepare diligently, and strive for excellence in the competition.
This edition of the Universiade was hosted successively across six cities in Germany's Rhine-Ruhr region, featuring fierce competition across 18 major events. Approximately 9,200 student athletes from 150 countries and regions gathered for this youthful sporting extravaganza. The Chinese delegation comprised over 200 faculty members and students from 81 universities and institutions across 26 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities nationwide, competing in over 90 events across 14 major disciplines.
The Chinese women's table tennis team was assembled and fielded by East China University of Science and Technology, with all coaches and players hailing from the institution. Faculty members Yuying ZANG and Yuefei MA served as coaches, while players Xiaotong WANG, Shang ZHAO, Yiyun YANG, and Feier HAN - all postgraduate and undergraduate students at the university - competed for medals across all women's table tennis events at this Universiade, including the women's team, women's doubles, women's singles, and mixed doubles.