Tomokazu Harimoto (Photo WTT)
Just days on from the nail-biting action of WTT Champions Doha 2026, some of the world’s best return to Lusail Sports Arena to right wrongs, settle scores and, more importantly, win their first, or maybe even second, title of the season at WTT Star Contender Doha 2026.
In the men’s singles draw, several players who graced the field at WTT Champions last week, including none other than the eventual winner Lin Yun-Ju will be in action.
Yun-ju had to wait almost 800 days to get his hand on that elusive title. While he may argue it was worth the wait, surely it would be even sweeter if he could double his season tally at the second time of asking.
But he has a strong selection of opponents in front of him, including the No.1 seed Lin Shidong, who exited the event in the semifinal to Jang Woojin, who is making a return.
Also making up the field are two players from the Top 10 in Tomokazu Harimoto, who lost to Yun-Ju in the semifinal last week and Brazil’s Hugo Calderano. Harimoto has a history in Doha. Last year, he won the men’s singles title and finished as runner-up in the men’s doubles.
In the women’s singles draw, Zhu Yuling, who had a phenomenal WTT Champions Doha that culminated in her lifting the title, steps in as the event’s No.2 seed. A lot has been said of Yuling’s success over the last year, but adding a WTT Star Contender title to a trophy cabinet that already boasts one from the United States Smash and WTT Champions Doha 2026 would be something else.
Also hanging around in Doha from last week are defending champion and top seed Kuai Man, Korea’s Shin Yubin and Adriana Diaz. One player inside the Top 10, Chen Yi, is set to make her 2026 Doha debut.
Leading the charge for men’s doubles is Korea’s Lim Jonghoon-An Jaehyun, but they are set to face a tough challenge from Hong Kong, China’s Wong Chun Ting-Baldwin Chan. Lin Shidong will pair up with Liang Jingkun as they challenge on two fronts.
The women’s doubles is headed by another pair from Korea Republic in Ryu Hanna-Kim Nayeong. Their toughest challengers will come in the form of defending champions Satsuki Odo-Sakura Yokoi.
And rounding off the star-studded line-up are three mixed doubles pairs with bags of experience, as WTT Finals Hong Kong 2025 champions Lim Jonghoon-Shin Yubin lead the charge. Also on the roster are Hong Kong, China’s Wong Chun Ting-Doo Hoi Kem and the No.3 seed Alvaro Robles-Maria Xiao.
