The July “Sino Cup” Table Tennis Invitational Tournament Successfully Concludes

The July edition of the “Sino Cup” High-Level Table Tennis Invitational Tournament, which was postponed last Saturday due to heavy rain, was successfully completed today. The tournament determined the top four players of this month’s competition.

Ru Jizhi from the Shandong Luneng Table Tennis Team claimed the championship, while Wang Haobo, Zhang Yu, and Li Ao secured second, third, and fourth place respectively.

The tournament was once again held at the THA Reception Hall of Rose Lane Sun Palace in Chaoyang District, Beijing. Organized by the Tsinghua Alumni Table Tennis Club and hosted by Shanghai Sino-Telecom Co., Ltd., the event brought together high-level table tennis players for an intense competition. The matches were officiated by Wang Xin, Associate Professor of the Department of Physical Education at Tsinghua University and an international-level referee, as well as Zhou Tianrui, a Tsinghua University alumnus and international-level referee. All match results will be uploaded to ChinaTT and counted as valid rating points on the platform.

The “Sino Cup” High-Level Table Tennis Invitational Tournament is the third monthly event of the first season in 2026. The top four players of today’s tournament secured the final four spots for the first season’s playoffs.

Therefore, the competition was of great significance for all participating players. From the first-stage group matches held in the morning, the intensity of the tournament quickly escalated. To advance to the afternoon knockout stage, players fought hard for every point and every match. High-quality rallies and exciting exchanges between competitors frequently drew applause and cheers from the audience.

At the end of the first stage:

• In Group 1, Li Ao defeated all three opponents with a 3–1 scoreline in each match, earning 6 points and advancing as the group leader. Chen Qi secured second place with two wins from three matches and 5 points, qualifying for the knockout stage.
• In Group 2, Zhang Yu achieved three victories in three matches, earning 6 points and first place in the group. Su Zhiqiang advanced in second place with two wins and 5 points.
• In Group 3, Ru Jizhi finished first after winning all three matches and collecting 6 points. Wang Ziwei ranked second with two wins and 5 points.
• In Group 4, Wang Haobo won all three matches and topped the group with 6 points. Female player Qiao Meng secured second place with two victories and 4 points, advancing based on her superior match-win ratio.

In the quarterfinals, the eight qualified players were paired through a draw system. Each competitor fought with full determination, delivering a series of thrilling matches. Li Ao defeated Su Zhiqiang 3–1, Wang Haobo defeated Wang Ziwei by the same score, and Ru Jizhi also secured a 3–1 victory over Chen Qi. Zhang Yu defeated female player Qiao Meng 3–2, confirming the final four positions. In the match between Qiao Meng and Zhang Yu, Qiao Meng, as the only female player in the tournament, demonstrated outstanding fighting spirit. She challenged Zhang Yu with determination, giving her best performance and showcasing her unique playing style.

The semifinals became a significant test of players’ physical endurance. After multiple rounds of high-intensity competition, although fatigue was evident, both sides continued to deliver excellent performances and thrilling battles. Ultimately, Wang Haobo defeated Li Ao 3–0, while Ru Jizhi defeated Zhang Yu 3–0. Both players advanced to the championship final.

The championship final between Ru Jizhi and Wang Haobo was a highly anticipated matchup. Both players had ChinaTT ratings above 2,200 points, with only a small difference between their rankings. Ru Jizhi, a player from the Shandong Luneng Table Tennis Team, traveled from Jinan to Beijing specifically to participate in the “Sino Cup” tournament.

• In the first game, Ru Jizhi took an early lead and won 11–3. In the second game, Wang Haobo narrowed the gap and kept the score close, with both players exchanging leads throughout the match. However, Wang Haobo narrowly lost the game 8–11.
• In the third game, Ru Jizhi quickly built a lead at the beginning, going ahead 5–0. Wang Haobo fought back strongly and once brought the score level to 9–9, but eventually lost the game 9–11.

Ru Jizhi won the final 3–0, securing the championship title.

In the third-place playoff between Zhang Yu and Li Ao, Zhang Yu defeated Li Ao to claim third place.

After the tournament, the “Sino Cup” organizing committee held an award ceremony and specially invited Tiger Xie, Chairman of Shanghai Sino-Telecom Co., Ltd., to present awards to the winning players.

With the successful conclusion of the July event, the top four players — Ru Jizhi, Wang Haobo, Zhang Yu, and Li Ao — not only received prize money from this tournament but also secured the final four qualification spots for the first season playoffs.

Congratulations to all the winners.

The first seasonal tournament of the 2026 “Sino Cup” Table Tennis Invitational Tournament will begin in August. Sino-Telecom welcomes continued attention and support for the exciting competitions ahead.