Site Products
USA Men: Home Stretch in Group Stage

Team USA Opens Worlds with a Comeback Victory

(by Johnathan Humbles)
Team USA Opens Worlds with a Comeback Victory

Play began today for Team USA’s men.  The team of Yijun Feng, Kanak Jha, Nikhil Kumar, and Nicholas Tio enter the tournament as the 38th overall seed.  Team USA is the fourth seed of a six team Group H in the Men’s Second Division. In the group stage, they will play Spain, Iran, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, and Puerto Rico.

Much like the women’s team earlier in the day, TeamUSA’s men started off playing a higher seeded opponent and ended the first match with a loss. The similarities end there.

Out of the gate, USA’s Yijun (Tom) Feng suffered the opening match loss to Spain’s Carlos Machado. It was a hard-fought match from the first serve. Feng managed to keep the match close throughout, winning games two and four.  Ultimately, Feng fell just short, losing 3-2 (-9, 12, -6, 11, -8).

Kanak Jha was next to step into the arena. He wasted little time in quickly establishing himself in the match. Armed with his quick flicks, powerful loops, and great blocks, Jha ended his match in straight sets over Spain’s Alvaro Robles (-6, -7, -6).  Jha finished just as he started, STRONG.

Watching what had unfolded in front of him, Nihkil Kumar knew his time was now.  With the score knotted at one match each, Kumar faced Spain’s Jesus Cantero.  Cantero was a larger framed opponent, but Kumar was able to use his speed and agility to best his opponent in straight games (-9, -10, -9).

Seeing the tide shift, and now having a 2 match – 1 match advantage, it was now Yijun Feng’s opportunity to get back on track and secure a victory for Team USA.  But it was not to be, Feng fell to  Alvaro Robles 3-1.

With the match now tied at 2 sets each, the stage was set for the fifth and final set pitting USA’s Kanak Jha against Spain’s Carols Machado.  Both Jha and Machado had won their first match and both were ready.  This set had it all; blocks, loops, pushes, flicks and lobs. In the end, Jha rose to the challenge of the five game set.  Jha won the first two games by the score of 11-8.  Machado bounced back in games 3 and 4.  But after some adjustments from men’s coach, Stefan Feth, Jha regained his composure to win the final game.  Game, set, match to Team USA.

Latest News

Edward Ly and Mo Zhang Biggest Winners at Canadian Senior Championships

July 25, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) Richmond’s Olympic Oval in British Columbia was host to the 2025 Canadian Senior Table Tennis… Read More

Incorporating the Wait Function

July 25, 2025
WAIT FUNCTION: 1 short side spin serve, robot will play 5 random top spin balls anywhere on the… Read More

Play 60% of Your Maximum Power

July 23, 2025
Robot will play RANDOM top spin balls anywhere on the table, either Forehand topspin or Backhand topspin to… Read More

Don’t Hang Out

July 21, 2025
Robot will play RANDOM top spin balls to 2/3 of the table (Forehand), only Forehand topspin to Backhand… Read More

#4 Heavy Pushes that don’t let the opponent take the initiative (final episode)

July 21, 2025
Feature] [Special feature] America’s star! Jha’s strong points #4 Short Pushes that don’t let the opponent take the… Read More

Three Things You Want To Do In The First Game

July 21, 2025
(By Larry Hodges) Establish your game. For example, if you have a strong third-ball attack, such as short… Read More

Kevin Doyle – Counterloop Variation

July 21, 2025
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Kevin Doyle https://youtu.be/wBDNHVdu33w Stay “In The Loop” with Butterfly professional table tennis… Read More

Major League Table Tennis: New Rules for a New Season

July 20, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) As Major League Table Tennis (MLTT) prepares to launch its third season this September, the league… Read More
View All News

Get the latest from Butterfly

Stay “In The Loop” with Butterfly professional table tennis equipment, table tennis news, table tennis technology, tournament results, and We Are Butterfly players, coaches, clubs and more.