The WTT Yokohama Champions, set for August 4-9 at the Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium, has released its first entry list, and China's biggest names are notably absent. Wang Chuqin, Lin Shidong, Sun Yingsha, and Wang Manyu, the core of Chinese table tennis, will all skip the 1000-point event.

Instead, China will field a secondary lineup: Wen Ruibo, Xiang Peng, Chen Yuanyu, and Zhou Qihao on the men's side, with Chen Xingtong, Chen Yi, Kuai Man, and Wang Yidi representing the women. The decision reflects a deliberate strategy to rest the team's heavy hitters while giving tournament reps to players who have already secured Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games spots.

Men's Draw: Harimoto to Defend at Home

Without Wang Chuqin and Lin Shidong, the top four seeds in Yokohama are all non-Chinese. Tomokazu Harimoto is the No. 1 seed, followed by Felix Lebrun, Sora Matsushima, and Lin Yun-Ju. China's Wen Ruibo enters as the No. 5 seed, with Dang Qiu, Jang Woojin, and Alexis Lebrun rounding out the top eight.

Last year in Yokohama, Harimoto defeated Wang Chuqin 4-2 in a memorable men's singles final, his biggest WTT title at the time. He will now defend that crown on home soil, against a field that lacks the two Chinese players who have historically given him the most trouble.

Also entered: Darko Jorgic, Shunsuke Togami, Sora Matsushima (doubling up), Yuta Uda, and Simon Gauzy. The Japanese presence is deep, and with the top seeds aligned in their favour, a home victory looks very realistic.

Women's Draw: Chen Xingtong Returns as Reigning Champion

On the women's side, the top seed is an unexpected name: Zhu Yuling, the former world No. 1 who now represents Macau China. She has been steadily climbing the rankings since her return and will be the player to beat in Yokohama.

Miwa Harimoto is the No. 2 seed, followed by defending champion Chen Xingtong at No. 3 and Chen Yi at No. 4. Chen Xingtong won the title last year by defeating Sun Yingsha 4-2 in the final, one of the biggest wins of her career. She will look to defend without Sun Yingsha or Wang Manyu in the draw.

Kuai Man (No. 5) and Wang Yidi (No. 6) complete the Chinese contingent, while Hina Hayata, Shin Yubin, Miyu Nagasaki, Honoka Hashimoto, Jeon Jihee, and Cheng I-Ching add international depth.

What This Means

China's decision to rest four main players is a clear signal: the priority is the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya and the long-term buildup to Los Angeles 2028. Wen Ruibo, Xiang Peng, and Chen Yi are all Asian Games participants who need match experience and ranking points. Zhou Qihao, at 29, remains a reliable veteran presence.

For the rest of the world, this is a rare opportunity. A WTT Champions event without Wang Chuqin or Sun Yingsha is like a Grand Slam without the favourites. Japan, in particular, will be eyeing this as a chance to pile up titles and rankings points on home turf.

The main draw begins August 4. Whether Chen Xingtong can repeat, or whether Harimoto will once again lift the trophy in front of a home crowd, will be the storylines to watch.