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Du Hanjing. [Photo/Shaoxing News]

Du Hanjing, a 14-year-old table tennis player from Shangyu district, Shaoxing, Zhejiang province, won the U15 girls' singles title at the World Table Tennis (WTT) China Youth Smash in Beijing on Oct 11.

Facing Japan's Miku Matsushima, the world's top-ranked U15 player, Du took an early 3-0 lead before her opponent fought back to level the match. In the deciding game, Du trailed 4-6 but kept her composure, scoring four consecutive points to seal a 4-3 victory.

"I was driven by a strong belief that I represent Team China, and this was a home competition. I knew I couldn't give up," Du said after the match.

Du began playing table tennis as a preschooler at the Shangyu District Sports School, where she trained six days a week for two to three hours each session. Her dedication earned her city and provincial titles before she joined Zhejiang's provincial team in third grade. In early 2026, she was selected for China's national youth table tennis team.

Her rise has continued this year. In May, she won the U15 girls' singles title at a WTT Youth Contender event in Bangkok. Her latest triumph in Beijing marks another milestone in her promising career, highlighting both her determination and the grassroots sports development system that has helped nurture young talent in Shangyu.