SINGAPORE – It is looking to be a smashing new year for table tennis fans, with the sport’s top stars to compete at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Singapore Smash from Feb 19 to March 1 at the OCBC Arena.

China’s top-ranked men’s and women’s players Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha lead the player list announced by WTT on Jan 10.

Also travelling to Singapore for the US$1.55 million (S$1.99 million) tournament are the remaining men’s top five players Lin Shidong of China, Brazil’s Hugo Calderano, Tomokazu Harimoto (Japan), and Truls Moregard (Sweden).

Sun will be joined by compatriots Wang Manyu, Kuai Man, Chen Xingtong and Wang Yidi, who are ranked in the top five.

World No. 4 Harimoto will be looking to make a mark at the first WTT Grand Smash event of the 2026 season – which kicks off on the third day of the Chinese New Year – having won the WTT Finals for the first time in Hong Kong against Moregard last December.

The 22-year-old also notched several milestones in 2025, winning the WTT Star Contender Doha and WTT Champions Yokohama, where he ended a seven-match losing streak and defeated world No. 1 Wang in the final.

Setting his sights on his first title in Singapore, Harimoto, who finished in the last-16 in 2023 and 2024, said: “I’ve competed in many different countries, but Singapore is a very special place for me.

“Since the Grand Smash events began, the level has become even higher, and it’s extremely difficult just to reach the quarter-finals. That gives me mixed feelings, but it also motivates me even more.”

Sweden’s fifth-ranked Moregard is also looking forward to competing here and wants to “make more good memories”.

He added: “I’ve had some challenging matches in Singapore, but I really love the city. It’s amazing, and I always enjoy being there.

“Many of my family members came along to watch me compete an...