by sportswriters Li Chunyu, Yue Ranran and Liu Bo
HAIKOU, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- World No. 1 Sun Yingsha of China stayed patient in her return from an ankle injury, and it paid off with her first Asian Cup women's singles title on Sunday.
"I didn't set any target for myself," Sun said after edging compatriot Wang Manyu 4-3 in the final. "But the result truly made me excited. The journey of winning my first Asian Cup title left a wonderful memory for me."
The tournament marked Sun's first appearance since December 13, when an ankle injury forced her to withdraw from the singles semifinals at the WTT Finals. She later competed in the mixed doubles final that day, but was clearly affected by the injury and finished runner-up with teammate Wang Chuqin.
After being sidelined from major events for more than a month, Sun admitted she carried some uncertainty into the Asian Cup.
"As the ankle injury didn't trouble me anymore, I needed to examine my competitive state through high-level events," she said. "Training and competition are quite different. I wasn't sure how I would perform. The only thing I could do was stay calm and prepare more."
From the group stage through the knockout rounds, Sun gradually found her rhythm, adjusting her play as she worked toward peak form in front of home fans.
The seaside setting in Haikou, in south China's Hainan Province, also helped her relax. "I've been sleeping well lately," Sun said.
Sun advanced from the group stage without dropping a game, then defeated South Korea's Kim Na-yeong 3-1 in the round of 16. In the best-of-seven quarterfinals and semifinals, the 25-year-old world champion beat compatriots Chen Yi 4-1 and Kuai Man 4-2.
"We're very familiar with each other in training and daily life," Sun said of her younger teammates. "Both Kuai and Chen have made remarkable progress in recent years, with higher rankings. Their technical systems have become more diverse, and they've reached new heights with a more stable mindset."
Six of the top 10 players in the current women's singles world rankings are from China. "Our team has been developing in a steady manner," Sun said.
From a personal perspective, Sun said she now has a deeper understanding of match play as she matures.
"Every competition is a test for me," she said. "Whether I win or lose, I can always learn from the process."
In the final, Sun faced Wang Manyu, whom she defeated 4-3 at last year's World Table Tennis Championships in Doha to retain the women's singles title. Wang, however, had beaten Sun in the World Table Tennis China Smash final in October 2025 and again in the women's singles final at China's National Games a month later.
"Manyu is a respectable teammate," Sun said. "We're very evenly matched in healthy competition. I had lost to her in two consecutive finals before, so I felt unburdened this time."
The seven-game final went down to the wire before Sun narrowly claimed the title.
"It was an excellent final filled with details," Sun said. "I could feel Manyu's presence throughout the match. We adjusted our strategies and gave everything on the court. We've both improved our skills and mentality, which made the victory even more enjoyable."
With the trophy in hand, Sun declared her return in confident terms.
"A new breakthrough, a new start," she said. ■
