After a hard-fought victory over Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna in the first round of the ongoing WTT Champions Chongqing 2025, world No. 2 Wang Chuqin of China revealed that studying videos of Aruna defeating his compatriots was crucial to his preparation.
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Despite facing each other for the first time in a competitive event, the match lived up to fans’ expectations, with Aruna putting up a strong performance against the Chinese superstar.
Chuqin, who was the runner-up at WTT Champions Chongqing last year, endured some tense moments in his first-ever clash with Aruna but ultimately secured a 3-0 (11-6, 13-11, 11-7) victory. The former World No. 1 comfortably won the first game by a five-point margin but had to rally from a 5-9 deficit in the second game. The third game followed the script for Wang, who maintained his lead and closed out a well-deserved win.
Aruna’s trademark forehand earned him five consecutive points, creating challenging moments for Chuqin. However, a timely timeout for Aruna shifted the momentum, allowing Chuqin to win the second game 13-11.
Reflecting on the match, Chuqin said, “I was thoroughly prepared for tough challenges. I watched videos of his previous matches, especially those where he defeated my teammates. Aruna has bested many excellent players, so even though I hadn’t played him before, he left a strong impression on me. With Coach Wang’s support, I was well-prepared for a difficult match. The match largely went as we anticipated, with our planned techniques and tactics.”
Regarding the second game, he added, “Initially, I aimed to suppress my opponent using my serves to create better rally opportunities. However, he adapted to my serves, making it difficult for me to deliver high-quality shots. I then decided to engage in a 50-50 rally and gradually turned the situation around.”
Acknowledging the significance of the win, Chuqin said, “Winning this first match against Aruna is a big boost for my upcoming matches. He’s a strong player with a unique style that challenges me. Overcoming the crucial second set built my confidence and helped me adapt to the venue.”
The 2025 Africa Cup champion joined Aruna in exiting the tournament after losing 3-0 (3-11, 6-11, 8-11) to German penholder Dang Qui. Dina Meshref was the first African to be eliminated, losing to South Korea’s Kim Nayeong 3-1 (8-11, 11-8, 7-11, 7-11). Egypt’s Hana Goda will face 2023 WTT Contender Lagos champion Shin Yubin of South Korea in the first round of the Women’s Singles on Thursday, March 13.
