Muscat – China’s Wen Ruibo, World ranking 31st, lifted the men’s singles title of WTT Contender Muscat 2026 after defeating Germany’s Patrick Franziska, world ranking No. 20, in a thrilling seven-game final late on Saturday at the indoor hall of Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bousher.
Wen dominated the early stages of the match, racing to a 3-0 lead, before Franziska mounted a remarkable comeback to level the score at 3-3. The title was ultimately decided in a dramatic final game, where Wen showed composure and precision to seal a 4-3 victory and claim the championship.
The tournament was held under the patronage of Sheikh Nasser bin Sulaiman al Harthi, Adviser to the President of the Oman Investment Authority, and was attended by Abdullah bin Mohammed BaMakhalaf, Chairman of the Oman Table Tennis Association (OTTA), along with guests and a large turnout of enthusiastic spectators.
In the women’s singles final, China’s Shi Xunyao, ranked 15th in the world, delivered an authoritative performance to secure the title with a 4-0 win over her compatriot He Zhuojia, confirming China’s dominance in the singles categories.
The doubles competitions also witnessed strong performances from Asia’s elite players. In the men’s doubles, the Chinese pair Lin Shidong and Huang Youzheng claimed the title after defeating Germany’s Benedikt Duda and Patrick Franziska by 3-1. The Women’s Doubles crown went to the Chinese duo Zhong Geman and Qin, who overcame Hong Kong’s Do Hoi Kem and Wing Lam with a convincing 3-0 victory. Meanwhile, India celebrated success in the mixed doubles as Manush Shah and Diya Chitale edged past Huang and Shi of China in a closely contested 3-2 final.
The tournament, organised by OTTA in coordination with World Table Tennis (WTT) and the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), attracted nearly 200 players from 34 countries, including Australia, China, Chinese Taipei, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Italy, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Nepal, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, the United States, Wales, Malaysia, Jordan, South Korea, and the hosts Oman. Competitors vied for a total prize purse of USD 100,000, reinforcing the tournament’s status as a key event on the international calendar.
Reflecting on the tournament’s success, BaMakhalaf stated that the WTT Contender and Star Contender events in Muscat have become essential fixtures within WTT’s annual global agenda. “ The growing interest from world-ranked players, attributing it to Oman’s high organisational standards, efficient logistics, and the country’s safety, tourism appeal and hospitality. The strong international broadcast reach through IMG Arena Poland and WTT digital platforms, alongside extensive local media coverage,” he added
Men’s champion Wen Ruibo expressed his delight at lifting the title in Muscat, describing the final as “extremely exciting” while praising Franziska’s resilience. Women’s champion Qi Wenyao also shared her happiness, noting that this was her second singles title in Oman and expressing optimism about maintaining her form in upcoming international events.
