MACAO, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Though she walked from the arena back to her hotel wiping away tears, leaving without a word in the mixed zone after her loss on Saturday, 18-year-old Egyptian sensation Hana Goda has emphatically proven her strength at the 2026 ITTF World Cup, etching her name into history.

Hana Goda of Egypt reacts during the women's singles quarterfinal match between Sun Yingsha of China and Hana Goda of Egypt at the ITTF Men's and Women's World Cup 2026 in Macao, China, April 4, 2026. (Photo: Xinhua)

In the women's singles quarterfinals held at the Galaxy Arena in Macao, Goda pushed world No. 1 and two-time champion Sun Yingsha to the absolute limit in a seven-game thriller, where the Egyptian youngster fell 4-3.

The match was intense throughout. Sun won the first two games and held several game points in the third. However, Goda fought back to tie it at 10-all, eventually taking the game 16-14. Goda won the next two games to take a 3-2 lead. Sun quickly adjusted, dominating the sixth game 11-3 to force a decider. In the dramatic seventh game, Sun had trailed 10-8 but saved match points to win 13-11, securing her spot in the semifinals.

Sun offered high praise for the young challenger. "Hana has grown incredibly fast over the past few years, and her overall strength has improved significantly. She played exceptionally well today," Sun said. "She also had a comeback victory yesterday, and I know she has made history for Africa. As a young player, she really enjoys the game and is eager to show her absolute best on such a big stage. I think that is the true charm of competitive sports."

Goda's historic moment came on Friday night during the round of 16, where she staged a comeback against French veteran Yuan Jianan. In the match lasting one hour and 12 minutes, Goda saved three consecutive match points in the deciding game to win 13-11. With that victory, she became the first African female player to reach the quarterfinals of the Singles World Cup, and only the second African player overall to achieve the feat, following Nigeria's Quadri Aruna in the 2014 men's tournament.

The ITTF hailed her achievement, saying on its website that "It is a landmark moment for African table tennis, and a result that will inspire a generation of players across the continent for years to come."

After her victory, Goda collapsed onto her back on the court in celebration, weeping in joy. "I don't even know how I feel right now. It's crazy, it's emotional, I just can't believe it," she sobbed. "Reaching the World Cup quarterfinals has always been my goal, but actually achieving it feels completely surreal. I've always set big goals for myself, and I am so happy to have accomplished one of them."

"One of my favorite things about winning is carrying the name of Egypt and the name of Africa with me. It's not a weight or a burden, I really love being able to put my country and my continent in such a good place on the world stage. I'm so overwhelmed I can barely find the words right now," she added.

Goda's table tennis journey began at age four. Because she was too short to reach the table, her coach sawed off the table legs so she could train. She also practiced handball and swimming in her childhood but eventually chose to focus on table tennis, quickly displaying her talent.

She became the youngest national champion in Egypt in 2019, and one year later, the 12-year-old topped the ITTF U15 women's world rankings, becoming the first African player to gain the top spot.

Goda secured a U19 singles bronze medal at the ITTF World Youth Championships in Sweden in 2024, marking Egypt's best-ever result in the event. In October 2025, she defeated teammate Dina Meshref to secure her third consecutive title at the African Championships, becoming the first player to achieve a three-peat in the tournament's history.

Goda has expressed admiration for her idol Sun's focus and composure during matches. She lost to Sun in their first encounter at the 2025 WTT United States Smash, in a five-game second-round match.

Though her World Cup journey ended in tears, Goda has shown the world that she is a formidable force, and her historic run in Macao is only the beginning.