Singapore Smash 2023 to Showcase City's Best Table Tennis Players

(23/01/23)  Spectators at Singapore Smash 2023 will get an exclusive preview of the future of Singapore table tennis, with several young stars unveiled as local wildcards for the event scheduled for 11-19 March.

Zhou Jingyi (pictured) and Wong Xin Ru, both part of the gold-winning women’s team at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, will compete in the women’s singles main draw.

Compatriots Ser Lin Qian and Zhang Wanling have been awarded wildcards into the qualifying draw of the women’s singles event.

Zhou Jingyi, a teenager who impressed many with her steady performances at senior events last year, said, “Playing at Singapore Smash last year was a good experience and I learned a lot about competing among the best at an international event. I’m excited to be a part of this again and I hope we get lots of supporters here to cheer us on at Singapore Smash.”

Zhou Jingyi at Singapore Smash 2022. Picture: World Table Tennis

Leading the contingent of local wild cards in the men’s singles are Olympian Clarence Chew and multiple SEA Games medallist Koen Pang, who will feature in the main draw.

Ethan Poh and Josh Chua are the local wildcards for the men’s singles qualifying draw.

Clarence Chew and Ethan Poh memorably stunned the 2019 World Championship doubles silver medallists enroute to the men’s doubles quarterfinals at the first-ever Singapore Smash last year.

Chew, who competed at the Tokyo Olympics, said, “I’m grateful for the chance to play in front of a home crowd again, especially in a prestigious event like Singapore Smash. Opportunities like this are valuable to those of us who are more experienced, as well as my younger team-mates who have also received wildcards. We’ve been training hard for Singapore Smash so that we’re ready to play our best on home ground, and we’re all looking forward to it.”

Singapore Smash 2023 will feature 64 player men’s and women’s singles and 24-pair doubles and mixed competitions. A singles qualifying competition featuring a further 64 men and 64 women will be held from 7-9 March. The full line-up of players will be unveiled in early February with more Singaporean players expected to take part.

World Table Tennis Event Strategy Director, Stephen Duckitt, said, “We are excited to see the first batch of Singapore players awarded wildcards and join the Singapore Smash field. This is a great opportunity for them to compete in a world-class event and enjoy playing in front of family and friends. Hosting one of the four major WTT events here in Singapore will create a grand new legacy and we call on Singaporeans to come and support their national stars at the Singapore Sports Hub in March.”

Tickets to the qualifying rounds, which take place from 7-9 March, start at S$18 while ticket prices for main draw from 11-19 March start from $28. Tickets are available on Ticket Master.

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