Croatia produced another outstanding performance, overcoming 10th seeds Hong Kong, China to extend their remarkable campaign in the Stage 2 of the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup 2025 8-6.
Ivor BAN and Hana ARAPOVIĆ opened with a clutch Mixed Doubles win, before Lea RAKOVAC added an early singles point in the 1-2 defeat against Chengzhu ZHU.
With the score tight at 3–3, Tomislav PUCAR delivered the match of the tie, sweeping Siu Hang LAM 3–0 to give Croatia control.
Hong Kong, China fought back in Women’s Doubles, but Croatia held firm. BAN and Frane KOJIĆ sealed the victory in the final match, securing a historic 8–5 result.
Germany carried the momentum from their strong display against China into an impressive 8–7 victory over Korea Republic.
Patrick FRANZISKA and Annett KAUFMANN gave Germany an ideal start in Mixed Doubles, followed by a solid win from Sabine WINTER, who recovered after losing the opening game.
Korea replied through Woojin JANG, who beat Dang QIU 3–0 to tighten the score. But QIU struck back in Men’s Doubles alongside Benedikt DUDA, taking a tense decider.
With the tie poised at 6–6, WINTER and Nina MITTELHAM stepped up in the Women’s Doubles, overturning a narrow start to clinch the tie and secure Germany’s hard-fought victory.
France closed the morning session in style, defeating Sweden 8–3. Simon GAUZY and Prithika PAVADE overturned a slow start in Mixed Doubles, before Charlotte LUTZ continued her impressive form with a controlled win over Linda BERGSTRÖM.
Alexis LEBRUN added another point against Mattias FALCK, and the LEBRUN brothers later teamed up to dominate the Men’s Doubles, sealing an important win as Stage 2 approaches its conclusion.
