The ITTF Men’s and Women’s World Cup Macao 2026 kicked off at Galaxy Arena in Cotai yesterday, with opening matches delivering tightly contested encounters.
Sanctioned by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), the seven-day event is co-organised by the Sports Bureau (ID), Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG) and World Table Tennis (WTT) Management Group Limited, in conjunction with the Macau Table Tennis General Association (MTTGA).
According to the ITTF website, Japan’s Mima Ito battled back from a game down to edge Canada’s Mo Zhang 3-2 in Women’s Group 8, while Japan’s Miwa Harimoto defeated India’s Manika Batra 3-0 despite a tightly contested opening game. In the men’s competition, South Korea’s Park Ganghyeon from Group 8 and Croatia’s Tomislav Pucar from Group 6 both garnered 3-0 victories in their respective matches.
Meanwhile in the male Group 14, Japan’s Shunsuke Togami defeated Macau’s Mak Tin Ian 3-1.
Speaking to the Post after the match, Mak said his pre-match preparation played a key role. “I watched his [Togami] videos beforehand to prepare my strategy, and it played a big role in the match. I wasn’t afraid in the crucial moments – I dared to stay aggressive and attack, which helped me win that game,” he said. Mak noted the difference in facing international opposition, saying that small mistakes may result in big consequences.
“My opponent is very strong and different to local players in Macau. At this level, if I’m not careful, I can lose points quickly because he will attack directly, making it difficult to defend,” he said. Mak added that maintaining the right mindset will be crucial moving forward. “What I learnt from this match is that I need to keep the same mentality as today [yesterday]. That will help me perform at my usual level or even better,” he said.
Mak also thanked the home crowd for their support. “Thank you very much for cheering for me today [yesterday]. I could hear it clearly, and it really motivated me. Your support helped me perform better,” he said.
Togami, meanwhile, told reporters he had little prior information on his opponent and had to adapt during the match. He also acknowledged that he suffered a left knee injury in pre-match training but was able to continue playing, while remaining cautious ahead of upcoming tournaments.
With the group stage still in its early phases and top contenders yet to play, the opening day set the stage for an intense week of competition as the tournament continues in Cotai.
The finals will take place on Easter Sunday.
Local player Mak Tin Ian speaks to the media after his match during yesterday’s ITTF Men’s and Women’s World Cup Macao 2026 at Galaxy Arena in Cotai. – Photo: Khalel Vallo
