Qatar’s Mohamed Abdulwahab created history on Saturday when he became the first player from the country to enter the Round of 64 of an ITTF World Table Tennis Championships.

At the Lusail Multipurpose Hall and Qatar University Sports Complex, he overcame New Zealand’s World No.104 Alfred Della Pena in the round of 128, taking the game 4-0 (11-5, 11-2, 15-13, 11-1).

Abdulwahab delivered a commanding performance to become the first Qatari player ever to enter the tournament’s main draw.

“I’m proud of this result, especially knowing even some of the world’s best players were knocked out in the first round,” he was quoted as saying.

“Qualifying for the next stage is a huge honour for me — my happiness is indescribable,” he added.

Hometown glory

Mohammed Abdulwahhab overcomes Alfred Dela Pena 4-0 on home turf to secure a historic R64 spot #ITTFWorlds2025 #TableTennis pic.twitter.com/TqMjjYjIk7

— World Table Tennis (@WTTGlobal) May 17, 2025

Abdulwahab had also been chosen to take the players’ oath during the opening ceremony. “That itself was already a moment of great pride for me. So this result builds on that, and I hope to continue performing at my best in the upcoming rounds,” he said.

He will take on Sweden’s World No.15 Anton Kallberg in the next round.

Meanwhile, the World Championships kicked off in right earnest on Saturday, with tenth seed Dang Qiu requiring late inspiration to fend off a dangerous challenge from Croat Filip Zeljko (11-6, 7-11, 11-5, 6-11, 11-8, 3-11, 11-8). Qiu will play Tom Jarvis in the round of 64.

Jarvis overcame Benedek Olah 4-1 (11-7, 11-6, 5-11, 11-8, 11-5) to make it to the next round.

Brazilian Giulia Takahashi made a great start to her singles debut at the Worlds with a ruthless 4-0 win over Nigeria’s Hope Udoaka (11-3, 11-1, 11-6, 11-8).

China’s Sun Yingsha kickstarted her title defence with a complete performance, brushing aside Ukraine’s Veronika Matiunina in dominant fashion (11-5, 11-6, 11-5, 11-7).

Japan’s seventh seed Satsuki Odo began her championship with a confident 4-0 victory (11-5, 11-10, 11-8, 11-5) against Chilean Paulina Vega.

South Korea’s Shin Yubin delivered a similarly decisive 4-0 (11-5, 11-7, 11-3, 11-3) result against New Zealand’s Lisa Gear, while Taiwanese Li Yu-Jhun defeated Cuban Daniela Fonseca 4-0 (11-7, 11-8, 11-5, 11-5). Romanian Andreea Dragoman overcame Thailand’s Jinnipa Sawettabut 4-1 (11-5, 6-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-7) in a thriller.

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