Anna Hursey and Shi Xunyao form an eye-catching women's doubles partnership at WTT China Smash

World No 45 Tom Jarvis will start his WTT Champions Macao campaign with a major challenge: meeting world No 3 Sora Matsushima. Anna Hursey (world No 37) has a more favourable draw against wildcard Leong On Na (No 475) in the first round. After Macao, both players head to the WTT China Smash, which begins on October 1, where Hursey will play women's doubles with Shi Xunyao, currently ranked world No 16. The schedule places Jarvis's match at 12.05pm UK time and Hursey's at 1.15pm. Both time slots are part of the first day of competition. The consecutive arrangement between Macao and Beijing is strategic. It helps England's players keep rhythm and avoid being rusty after long travel. Playing two WTT events back to back also optimises time at the national training centre in the Far East. England have deliberately grouped the two events into one long Asia trip to save travel time and increase work with local coaches. This reduces the risk of losing match sharpness. In the women's singles, Hursey could face Miwa Harimoto in the second round if she beats Leong On Na. Miwa Harimoto is the No 3 seed and one of the strongest representatives of Japan's new table tennis generation. This potential match is seen as an early test for Hursey, who is looking for high-level matches against Asian players. Their head-to-head data is not mentioned, but the gap in ranking and international experience remains a factor to monitor. Hursey must stay focused from the first round because Leong On Na, despite being a wildcard, cannot be taken lightly. The most eye-catching point is the women's doubles pair of Anna Hursey and Shi Xunyao at the WTT China Smash. Shi Xunyao is inside the top 20 women's players in the world. This partnership goes beyond symbolism; it lets Hursey train and play alongside a high-level Chinese player. The pair could combine Shi's fast, proactive style with Hursey's ability to adapt. However, their tactical details and chemistry have not been tested in previous tournaments. This is a chance for Hursey to gain experience at an event with leading Chinese seeds. On the professional side, English table tennis is using its relationship with China to create learning opportunities. Ma Lin, an Olympic champion, is involved in coaching and supporting Hursey during this period. John Murphy is also present in a bench-coaching role. Gavin Evans, Director of Performance Development at Table Tennis England, called this a fantastic opportunity for players and coaches. He stressed that this relationship helps England access an elite training environment that few countries can reach. Overall, the Macao-Beijing schedule gives Jarvis and Hursey a compact competition window. Jarvis faces the toughest challenge in the first round, while Hursey could meet a major seed in the second. Both scenarios place England in direct competition with Asia's strongest players. This reflects the current table tennis landscape, where China dominates and Japan has emerged as a major rival. For England, every match is a measure of their level. The biggest risk in this plan is Jarvis's opening match. Facing a top-three player immediately is difficult, especially when form and fitness have not been tested after travel. Yet continuous matches against strong opponents are also a way to avoid rustiness. For Hursey, the risk is lower because her first-round draw is easier and she has the extra doubles opportunity to get used to tournament atmosphere. Observers expect the Hursey-Shi Xunyao pair to attract media attention because co-operation between an English player and a Chinese player in doubles is rare. The story helps English table tennis appear more on international channels. If the pair makes an impact, Hursey's commercial value and image will be strengthened. But technically, the key remains how the two players fit into a shared tactical system. Speaking to the media, Gavin Evans said the co-operation with China is not the result of a single event but of a long-term relationship. He believes Hursey training in an environment with Ma Lin will have a positive effect on the whole team. For her part, Hursey wants to use her time in China to improve her skills. With a demanding schedule and strong opponents, the two English players know opportunities do not come often. They need to use this period to broaden their experience rather than focusing only on deep runs. This pragmatic approach fits the current stage of English table tennis development. As the relationship with China grows stronger, trips like this could become a regular talent-development channel. Jarvis and Hursey will play their Macao matches on the opening day; immediately after, the whole team moves to Beijing for the WTT China Smash.