On April 18, 2026, the opening event of the “Sino Cup” Table Tennis Invitational Series concluded successfully at the THA Table Tennis Club Lounge in Beijing’s Taiyanggong Rose Li district.
Set beside a scenic pond in the Rose Li community of Taiyanggong, the venue welcomed 16 invited table tennis players from leading universities and institutions in Beijing, including Tsinghua University, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing Sport University, the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and China University of Political Science and Law. After a full day of intense competition, the tournament determined its top four finishers, and the opening event of the “Sino Cup” Table Tennis Invitational Series concluded successfully.
The event was organized by the Tsinghua Alumni Table Tennis Club and supported by Sino-Telecom. Although compact in scale, the tournament featured a high level of competition and professional organization. International-level referee and Tsinghua University associate professor Wang Xin served as chief referee, while former world table tennis champion and Tsinghua University associate professor Liu Guozheng attended the event to provide on-site guidance and technical insights.
Before the matches began, Tiger Xie, CEO of Sino-Telecom, welcomed all participants and expressed the company’s commitment to developing the “Sino Cup” into a signature event of the THA Table Tennis Club. He also noted that the company plans to launch additional invitational tournaments in the future to create a platform for table tennis enthusiasts to connect and exchange through sport.
Former world table tennis champion and associate professor at the Physical Education, Tsinghua University, Liu Guozheng attended the event and offered technical advice on adapting to the tournament’s seven-point “golden point” format, while also encouraging players to achieve their best results.
The tournament also invited several active members of the Tsinghua University table tennis team. All participants held average ratings above 2,000 on Kaiqiu and Aiju, two widely recognized table tennis rating platforms in China. The 16 players were divided into two groups of eight, with male and female players competing together in the first-stage round-robin group matches. The tournament adopted a best-of-seven format, with each game decided by a seven-point “golden point” system, the same competition format used in the inaugural Beijing Table Tennis Super League in 2026.
Although the seven-point golden-point format increased the element of unpredictability, it also added suspense to the matches, making the competition more exciting, intense, and highly entertaining to watch. After a series of intense and closely contested matches, the top two players from each group were determined by 4:00 p.m. In Group A, Zhang Kunhao, a doctoral student from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, finished first with a perfect record of seven wins from seven matches and 14 points, while Hou Di placed second with six wins and 13 points.
In Group B, Mai Tian’en, a student from Beijing Sport University, finished first with six wins from seven matches and 13 points, while Zhang Jinghan from Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications placed second with five wins and 12 points.
The second stage of the tournament then moved into the knockout rounds. In the first semifinal, Zhang Kunhao, the top finisher from Group A, faced Zhang Jinghan, the runner-up from Group B. Zhang Jinghan won the match 4–2 to advance to the championship final. In the second semifinal, Mai Tian’en, the top finisher from Group B, defeated Hou Di, the runner-up from Group A, by the same 4–2 scoreline.
The championship final delivered the most dramatic contest of the tournament. Mai Tian’en established an early 3–0 lead after the opening three games. In the fourth game, Zhang Jinghan pulled one back with a 7–3 victory. He then found his rhythm in the fifth game, using aggressive attacks to control the match and winning 7–2. Zhang continued his comeback by taking the next two games 7–6 and 7–3, completing a remarkable turnaround to win the final 4–3 and claim the championship title.
The final featured powerful smashes, delicate touch play, precise spin control, and rapid counterattacks from both players. The fast-changing transitions between offense and defense created a gripping spectacle, allowing spectators to fully appreciate the technical excellence and competitive spirit of high-level table tennis.
The third-place playoff was equally competitive, with Zhang Kunhao defeating Hou Di 4–2 to secure third place.
Following the competition, the organizing committee held an award ceremony. Liu Guozheng, Tiger Xie, and Wang Xin presented prize money and medals to the top four finishers.
As the opening event of the “Sino Cup” Table Tennis Invitational Series, the tournament showcased the sporting spirit of friendship through table tennis, exchange through competition, determination to excel, and healthy participation. It also provided an excellent platform for table tennis enthusiasts to sharpen their skills and strengthen friendships.
The “Sino Cup” series will continue with additional events in the future. More exciting matches are scheduled to follow, and continued attention to the series is warmly welcomed.
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