LONDON — The 2026 ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals have officially served off in London, marking a historic centenary celebration for the sport. Returning to the city where the inaugural World Championships took place exactly 100 years ago in 1926, the globe’s elite have descended upon the Copper Box Arena and OVO Arena Wembley.
For Team South Africa, the opening two days have been a brutal but invaluable baptism of fire against world-class opposition. Competing in Stage 1B of this massive 64-nation tournament, both the men’s and women’s squads are still hunting for their first overall tie victories. However, a spirited, heroic performance from the women’s side against Belgium has given the nation plenty to cheer about.
Here is a look at how the South African contingents have fared so far.
Women’s Team: Sonday Shines Despite Narrow Belgian Heartbreak
The South African women’s team opened their account against continental powerhouses Egypt on Day 1. Egypt, historically one of the most dominant forces in African table tennis, proved too strong, sweeping the tie 3-0. Despite the loss, Rochica Sonday showed tremendous grit by taking a hard-fought game off the highly experienced Dina Meshref.
Day 1 Results: Egypt 3 – 0 South Africa
- Hana Goda def. Danisha Patel (3-0): 11-2, 11-3, 11-3
- Dina Meshref def. Rochica Sonday (3-1): 11-4, 11-3, 8-11, 11-9
- Farida Badawy def. Jade Sasman (3-0): 11-5, 11-3, 11-3
Day 2 brought a much tighter affair against European competitors Belgium, pushing the tie all the way down to the wire in a five-match thriller. While Belgium eventually claimed a 3-2 victory, Sonday was the undeniable star of the day for South Africa, securing two massive singles victories against higher-ranked European opposition.
Sonday rallied from a 2-1 game deficit to defeat Lilou Massart in a tense five-setter, and later stunned Julie Van Hauwaert in four games. Unfortunately, Danisha Patel was narrowly edged out in the deciding final match in straight games, though she pushed the final game to a tense 12-10 tiebreak.
Day 2 Results: Belgium 3 – 2 South Africa
- Julie Van Hauwaert (BEL) def. Danisha Patel (RSA) (3-0): 11-3, 11-5, 11-2
- Rochica Sonday (RSA) def. Lilou Massart (BEL) (3-2): 4-11, 12-10, 6-11, 11-8, 11-7
- Margo Degraef (BEL) def. Jade Sasman (RSA) (3-0): 11-5, 11-7, 11-5
- Rochica Sonday (RSA) def. Julie Van Hauwaert (BEL) (3-1): 12-10, 11-7, 4-11, 11-9
- Lilou Massart (BEL) def. Danisha Patel (RSA) (3-0): 11-2, 11-7, 12-10
Men’s Team: A Tough Opener Against Asian Giants
The South African men’s team sat out the opening day but faced a monumental challenge on Day 2 against Hong Kong, one of the top-rated teams in the tournament.
Hong Kong demonstrated their pedigree, executing a clinical 3-0 sweep. The South African trio of Luke Abrahams, Chetan Nathoo, and Cuten Lodewyk battled hard to find their rhythm against the blistering pace and spin of their Asian counterparts. The gulf in experience was evident, but the exposure to this tier of speed and tactical precision is crucial for the squad’s development.
Day 2 Results: Hong Kong 3 – 0 South Africa
- Wong Chun Ting def. Luke Abrahams (3-0): 11-3, 11-4, 11-7
- Baldwin Chan def. Chetan Nathoo (3-0): 11-7, 11-3, 11-4
- Lam Siu Hang def. Cuten Lodewyk (3-0): 11-7, 11-6, 11-4
Looking Ahead: Day 3 Crucial for Team SA
The tournament structure requires teams to battle fiercely in these Stage 1B group matches to secure favorable seedings and a potential path to the knockout stages, where the Swaythling Cup (Men) and Corbillon Cup (Women) will ultimately be decided.
Both South African teams are back at the tables today, eager to convert their fighting spirit into overall tie victories.
Upcoming Fixtures (Day 3 – Thursday, April 30):
- Men’s Team vs. Saudi Arabia (11:00 SAST): The men will look to bounce back against a Saudi squad that just came off a bruising, narrow 3-2 defeat to Nigeria.
- Women’s Team vs. Algeria (18:00 SAST): An all-African clash awaits the women this evening. With Sonday in red-hot form, South Africa will view this as a prime opportunity to secure their first win of the championships.
Keep an eye on the Copper Box Arena today as the pride of South African table tennis looks to leave their mark on this historic 100-year anniversary event.
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