Jeddah: The Saudi Smash 2024, a global table tennis tournament, began in May and is currently underway at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah. The tournament features the world’s top male and female players, all vying for a chance to advance to the final rounds.
Yesterday, a total of 29 matches were played across five categories: men’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s singles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. Surprising upsets occurred throughout the day, with lower-ranked players achieving victories over higher-ranked opponents.
In the men’s doubles round of 16, Saudi Arabia’s Ali Al-Khadrawi and Abdulaziz Bushalibi faced off against the top-seeded Chinese pair of Chuqin Wang and Ma Long. Despite a valiant effort, the Saudi team fell to the Chinese duo in straight sets (3-0).
Bushalibi, one of the Saudi players, expressed the importance of the tournament for the national team, stating that the experience gained from playing against the world’s best is invaluable. He also noted that playing in front of a
home crowd is an unforgettable experience that motivates players to strive for success.
The Saudi Smash 2024 has a global audience in over 165 countries, with over 2.26 million viewing hours on live and recorded broadcasts.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
