Sun Yingsha Withdraws, Doo Hoi Kem Replaces Her in Doha

In a December 29 notice, the World Table Tennis tour confirmed that Sun Yingsha will not compete at the WTT Champions Doha event scheduled for January 7 to 11, 2026. The bulletin said Sun pulled out because of lingering discomfort following earlier competition, and noted she had previously withdrawn from a WTT Finals semifinal. The tour named Doo Hoi Kem of Hong Kong as Sun's replacement in the Doha field.

The announcement also listed the full Chinese singles contingents for the tournament. In women singles, China will be represented by Wang Manyu, Chen Xingtong, Kuai Man, Wang Yidi, and Chen Yi. The men singles line up includes Lin Shidong, Liang Jingkun, Xiang Peng, and Chen Yuanyu. The notice emphasized Sun's sustained status at year end as world number one for multiple consecutive years, underscoring the significance of her absence at a major early season stop on the international calendar.

For the tournament itself the late change will affect the draw, seeding balance, and media interest. Doo Hoi Kem steps into a high profile slot and brings a well known presence from Hong Kong to Doha. Players, coaches, and national team staff will need to adjust tactical plans and scouting priorities based on the revised entries. Fans who follow match ups closely will see a different path to the title for several seeded players.

Practical steps for followers include checking the WTT Champions Doha official page for updated draws and session times, and confirming broadcast schedules if following matches from home. Tournament organizers will post any operational changes as they finalize the field. The Doha event remains an early highlight of the 2026 WTT calendar and Sun Yingsha's withdrawal reshapes expectations for the opening of the year.