The prestigious ITTF Mens and Womens World Cup 2025 commenced on 14 April 2025 at the Galaxy Arena in Macao, where the worlds elite table tennis athletes began their quest for global supremacy. The opening day delivered spectacular performances, surprising results, and captivating moments that set the tone for what promises to be an exhilarating tournament.

Day 1 saw a blend of dominant performances from established stars and impressive showings from emerging talents. Indias Manika Batra claimed the distinction of the tournaments first win, defeating Giret Maylis 4-0 (11-1, 11-2, 11-6, 11-4) in a dominant Group 16 encounter.

Chinese prodigy and reigning World Youth Champion Huang Youzheng made a statement with a commanding 4-0 victory over veteran Mohamed Elbiali, dazzling the enthusiastic crowd with his remarkable shot-making. The match also witnessed the tournaments first-ever Table Tennis Review (TTR) system in action.

The day concluded with one of the tournaments first upsets as Thailands Suthasini Sawettabut overcame Korea Republics highly-rated Kim Nayeong 3-1 (9-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-6) in a physically demanding contest, demonstrating remarkable resilience after losing the opening game.

European stars demonstrated their prowess throughout the day. Frances Simon Gauzy maintained his impressive record against Spanish rival Alvaro Robles, rallying from a game down to secure a 3-1 victory in their Group 7 encounter, while Germanys Sabine Winter showcased the effectiveness of her innovative Anti-spin backhand rubber in a 3-1 win against Korea Republics Lee Eunhye.

In one of the days most anticipated matchups, German starlet and reigning World Youth Champion Annett Kaufmann exhibited remarkable mental fortitude, recovering from a 0-2 deficit to secure a 2-2 draw against Frances Prithika Pavade in a contest that highlighted the exceptional talent of the sports next generation.

Asian competitors reinforced their reputation for excellence with several convincing victories. Japans Hiroto Shinozuka and Shunsuke Togami each secured impressive 4-0 wins, while Chinese Taipeis contingent enjoyed a perfect start with Kao Cheng-Jui, Huang Yi-Hua, and Chien Tung-Chuan all emerging victorious in their respective matches.

Egyptian players made their presence felt, with teenage sensation Hana Goda delivering a commanding 4-0 victory over local hope Seak Hui Li. Her compatriot Dina Meshref, making her eighth World Cup appearance, secured a resolute 3-1 win over Zhu Chengzhu.

In a highly anticipated African continental clash, Nigerias Quadri Aruna prevailed 3-1 (11-6, 11-9, 6-11, 11-8) over Benins Abdel-Kader Salifou, reigniting their rivalry from the recent ITTF African Cup. Despite trailing in the second and fourth games, Arunas composure proved decisive in this nail-biting encounter.

In the Pan-American contests, American Kanak Jha dominated Argentinas Horacio Cifuentes with a comprehensive 4-0 victory, while Canadas Eugene Wang produced one of the days most surprising results by holding Japans highly-rated Yukiya Uda to a 2-2 draw.

Australian teenage sensation Nicholas Lum exemplified the drama the playing system can create, battling to a 2-2 (7-11, 11-5, 11-9, 10-12) draw against Hong Kong, Chinas experienced Wong Chun Ting. After trailing 0-1, Lum showcased his powerful forehand to take control, but squandered two game points in the decisive fourth game that would have secured him a remarkable victory. This match perfectly illustrated how the new format amplifies the significance of every point.

As Day 1 concludes, attention turns to tomorrows crucial matches that will further shape the qualification landscape. View the full schedule for day 2 here.

The ITTF Mens and Womens World Cup 2025 continues through 20 April at the Galaxy Arena in Macao. Table tennis enthusiasts worldwide can follow the action live through official ITTFs Youtube channel and witness history in the making as the tournament unfolds.