Wang Manyu and Kuai Man Defend Women’s Doubles Title at WTT China Smash

Chinese pair Wang Manyu and Kuai Man successfully defended their women’s doubles title at the 2026 World Table Tennis (WTT) China Smash on October 10, defeating Japan’s Miwa Harimoto and Hina Hayata 3–1 in the final in Beijing.

The Chinese duo won the match 13–11, 11–2, 9–11, 11–7, becoming the first women’s doubles pair in China Smash history to win the title in consecutive years. Their victory also delivered China’s first championship at this year’s tournament.

The final presented a major challenge for Wang and Kuai, who faced the tournament’s top-seeded Japanese team. Harimoto and Hayata entered the match as the world’s top-ranked women’s doubles pair, making the contest an important test for the Chinese combination.

The opening game was closely fought, with neither pair able to establish a decisive advantage. Wang and Kuai remained composed during the closing points and edged ahead with a 13–11 win, giving themselves an early lead in the final.

The Chinese players then took control in the second game. Their effective serve-and-return play, coordinated positioning and precise placement repeatedly disrupted the Japanese pair’s attacking rhythm. Wang and Kuai dominated the exchanges to win the game 11–2, moving within one game of the championship.

Harimoto and Hayata responded in the third game by increasing their attacking intensity and improving their execution. Their efforts paid off as they secured an 11–9 victory, reducing the deficit to 2–1 and keeping their hopes of a comeback alive.

Wang and Kuai, however, responded effectively in the fourth game. They regained control of the rallies, maintained pressure on their opponents and handled the crucial points with greater consistency. An 11–7 win completed the 3–1 victory and secured their successful title defense.

The result highlighted the Chinese pair’s strong coordination and ability to adjust under pressure. Women’s doubles requires more than individual technical ability: partners must work together on positioning, shot selection, transitions between attack and defense, and the management of match tempo. Wang and Kuai demonstrated these qualities when they recovered from the Japanese pair’s challenge in the third game.

Their victory also continued an impressive run against Harimoto and Hayata. Since July 2026, the Chinese and Japanese pairs have met in three major finals, with Wang and Kuai winning all three encounters. Their latest success further strengthened the Chinese duo’s record in high-stakes matches against one of the strongest teams in international women’s doubles.

The championship was also an important milestone for China’s national team, marking its first title at the 2026 WTT China Smash. With the tournament continuing, attention will turn to the remaining events and the performances of the leading players.

For Wang and Kuai, defending their title confirms the value of their partnership and provides further momentum for future international competitions. Maintaining consistency while continuing to develop tactical variety will be essential as they face increasingly competitive opponents on the international circuit.