ITTF World Championship: Goda storms into third round in Doha
African champion Hana Goda continued her impressive run at the 2025 ITTF World Championships, storming into the third round of the Women’s Singles in Doha, Qatar.
Improving on her 2023 performance in Durban, South Africa where her journey ended in the second round, Goda confidently dispatched Brazil’s Giulia Takahashi 4-1 on Monday, May 19, at Qatar University.
Facing the South American who had earlier eliminated Nigeria’s Hope Udoaka, Goda responded strongly after dropping the first set 9–11. From the second set onward, she was in dominant form, executing a range of tactics that overwhelmed her opponent.
Aside from a brief setback in the fourth set, where she trailed twice, Goda controlled the match and maintained the lead throughout. She closed the tie convincingly at 4-1 (9-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-7, 11-7), becoming the only African woman to reach the third round of the singles event.
However, a major challenge awaits as she prepares to face the tournament’s fourth seed, Wang Yidi of China, in the next round.
Meanwhile, England’s Tom Jarvis caused a major upset at the ITTF World Championships, stunning No.10 seed Dang Qiu with a dramatic 4-3 victory (11-9, 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 1-11, 6-11, 11-8).
Coming into the match as the underdog, Jarvis took on one of the sport’s top names, Qiu, a semi-finalist at the WTT Finals Men Doha just last year.
Jarvis made a blistering start, storming to a 10-3 lead in the opening game. Although Qiu narrowed the gap to 10-9, the Englishman held his nerve to clinch the opener. Riding the momentum, he went on to take the next two games, moving within striking distance of a sensational victory.
Qiu, known for his resilience, mounted a spirited comeback, claiming the fourth, fifth, and sixth games to level the match and shift momentum in his favour.
But Jarvis wasn’t finished yet. Regrouping for a decisive seventh game, he rediscovered his rhythm just in time. With nerves of steel and explosive shot-making, he sealed the match and delivered one of the tournament’s most memorable wins
