Abdulwahab Makes History as First Qatari to Reach Round of 64 at TT Worlds

Qatar’s Mohammed Abdulwahab etched his name into the history books with a groundbreaking performance at the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Doha 2025. Taking place at the Lusail Multipurpose Hall and Qatar University Sports Complex, the tournament saw Abdulwahab become the first Qatari player ever to reach the main draw of the men’s singles event. In his round of 128 match, he swept past New Zealand’s World No. 104 Alfred Della Pena with an emphatic 4-0 win (11-5, 11-2, 15-13, 11-1), displaying both composure and dominance on the court.

After the match, Abdulwahab expressed his overwhelming joy, calling the achievement both “historic” and “unprecedented.” He noted that progressing past the opening round was particularly meaningful given that even some top-tier athletes had failed to advance. "Qualifying for the next round means everything to me. I can’t put into words how happy I am," he said. His success added to an already memorable occasion, as he was also chosen to deliver the players’ oath during the tournament’s opening ceremony. “Being asked to take the oath on behalf of all the players was a huge honour. This victory just makes the entire experience even more special,” he added, hopeful about his prospects in the next rounds.

Elsewhere, the competition got off to a thrilling start, particularly in a gripping match between Germany’s Dang Qiu and Croatia’s Filip Zeljko. Qiu, seeded tenth, was pushed to the brink in a seven-game battle before finally emerging victorious (11-6, 7-11, 11-5, 6-11, 11-8, 3-11, 11-8). The Croatian showed great resilience, coming from behind repeatedly and even leading 7-6 in the decisive game. However, Qiu kept his nerve in the closing moments to edge through to the round of 64, where he will meet Tom Jarvis of England.

Jarvis had a smoother outing, overcoming Benedek Olah 4-1 (11-7, 11-6, 5-11, 11-8, 11-5). The Englishman revealed he had learned from a previous loss to Olah, preparing thoroughly with his coach and forming a clear game plan, which he was able to execute effectively.

Brazilian newcomer Giulia Takahashi made a statement in her senior World Championships debut, cruising to a 4-0 win over Hope Udoaka (11-3, 11-1, 11-6, 11-8). Takahashi, who had previously competed in the World Youth Championships, showed no signs of nerves as she controlled the match from start to finish. “I was a bit nervous at first, but my coach kept encouraging me to stay calm, and that really helped me stay focused,” she said.

Defending women’s singles champion Sun Yingsha also opened her title defence confidently with a straight-sets victory over Veronika Matiunina (11-5, 11-6, 11-5, 11-7). Despite not knowing much about her opponent beforehand, Sun kept her concentration and executed her strategy efficiently. She shared that her main objective was to remain focused and gradually build up her form as the tournament continues.

Other top performers in the women’s draw included Japan’s Satsuki Odo, who defeated Paulina Vega 4-0 (11-5, 12-10, 11-8, 11-5), and South Korea’s Shin Yubin, who dispatched Lisa Gear in similar fashion (11-5, 11-7, 11-3, 11-3). Li Yu-Jhun also secured a 4-0 win against Daniela Fonseca (11-7, 11-8, 11-5, 11-5), while Andreea Dragoman battled past Jinnipa Sawettabut 4-1 (11-5, 6-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-7) in a more competitive clash.

With historic breakthroughs, fierce rallies, and standout debuts, the first day of the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Doha 2025 delivered a powerful start — setting the tone for a thrilling tournament ahead.