Quek Izaac and Filippa Bergand Shine in Saudi Smash

The Saudi Smash table tennis event kicked off at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, marking the first World Table Tennis Championship event held in the Kingdom. Top players from around the globe are vying for the prestigious titles and substantial prizes on offer over the 11-day competition.

The singles events commenced with a qualifying stage, where 64 men and 64 women, including several Saudi players, are competing for eight spots in the main draw. Following the qualifiers, 56 elite male and female players will join the successful qualifiers in the main event starting this Saturday.

A total prize pool of $2 million awaits the winners, with the champions of the men's and women's singles events set to receive $65,000 each along with 2,000 world ranking points.

In the men's singles, Singapore's Quek Izaac made an impressive start by defeating India's Sathiyan Gnanasekaran 3-1. Quek, who reached the last 16 in the previous year's Smash event in Singapore, showcased his skills early in the competition.

Meanwhile, in the women's singles category, Sweden's Filippa Bergand staged a remarkable comeback from being two games down to triumph over India's Archana Girish Kamath 3-1. Bergand's resilience and determination were on full display as she secured a hard-fought victory.

The Saudi Smash event promises intense competition and thrilling matches as players strive to etch their names in table tennis history and claim the coveted titles. With high stakes and top-tier talent on display, the tournament is set to captivate fans and enthusiasts worldwide.