Korea’s leading table tennis ace to face world’s top players in high-stakes singles tournament
Chinese and Japanese powerhouses expected to mount major challenge as Shin seeks to reclaim elite ranking
Shin Yubin, the ace of Korean women’s table tennis representing Korean Air, is set to compete against elite international players in the singles event at the WTT Champions Yokohama 2025, held from August 7 to 11 in Yokohama, Japan.
The tournament stands as one of the premier events within the WTT series, ranked above Contender and Star Contender levels. Only the top 32 male and female singles players in the world are invited to participate. The total prize money amounts to $500,000, with the singles champions in both the men’s and women’s categories each receiving $40,000 and 1,000 ranking points.
Currently ranked 12th in the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) world rankings with 2,135 points, Shin Yubin has the opportunity to reclaim a spot in the top 10 if she reaches the finals, which would secure her an additional 700 ranking points.
This season, Shin has demonstrated her prowess in mixed doubles, winning consecutive WTT Series events in Ljubljana and Zagreb alongside Lim Jonghoon from Korea Exchange. She also earned runner-up honors at WTT Smash USA in June, maintaining impressive results throughout the year.
However, Shin has faced challenges in singles, most recently being eliminated in the quarterfinals of WTT Smash USA by Zhu Yuling of Macau, and she currently has an 0-8 record against Chinese players this season.
The formidable Chinese team will be out in force in Yokohama, with world No. 1 Sun Yingsha, Wang Manyu, Chen Xingtong, Kuai Man, and Wang Yidi all participating. Japanese stars including Harimoto Miwa (ranked 7th), Ito Mima (8th), and Odo Satsuki (9th) will also compete on home soil.
Shin’s recent singles results include a 0-4 loss to Chen Xingtong of China in the Round of 16 at the Macau World Cup in April, and a 2-4 defeat to Sun Yingsha at the World Championships in Doha this May.
To overcome her struggles against the dominant Chinese players, Shin participated in a four-day joint training camp in China starting July 20, further honing her competitive edge by joining the Chinese Super League. Signing a loan contract with Hubei Huaxin Club for this season, she has focused on improving her adaptability by playing against a diverse range of Chinese opponents in the local league.
For Shin, resolving the challenge of beating Chinese players is crucial not only for the upcoming 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games but also looking ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Alongside Shin, Korean women’s singles players Kim Nayoung (POSCO International, ranked 28th) and Joo Cheonhee (Samsung Life, 33rd) have also received invitations. In the men’s singles, Jang Woojin (SeAH), Ahn Jaehyun, Oh Junsung (both Korea Exchange), and Lee Sangsu (Samsung Life) will represent Korea.
The men’s field, too, features top global talents such as China’s Lin Gaoyuan (ranked 1st), Wang Chuqin (2nd), Japan’s Harimoto Tomokazu (4th), and France’s Felix Lebrun (6th), drawing intense interest from table tennis fans both at home and abroad.
Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”
Photo=MHN DB
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