Kanak Jha, Lily Zhang, Amy Wang Book Qualification to World Cup in Macao

Burlingame, Calif. – As the ITTF Americas Cup 2026 approaches an exciting final day, the stage is set, the rivalries are rekindled, and the margins for error are extremely narrow. After two days of high-stakes matches, the men’s and women’s singles semifinalists are locked in, leaving just eight players standing between glory and a place atop the Pan American table tennis hierarchy.

The women’s singles semifinals feature the upper echelon of Pan American table tennis, with Lily Zhang and Amy Wang of the United States joined by Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi and Canada’s Mo Zhang. All four are now just one win away from reaching the final.

Lily Zhang booked her place in the semifinals with a 4–1 victory over Paulina Vega of Chile (11-3, 8-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-4). Vega presented a challenging test with her ability to vary tactics point by point, but Zhang remained composed, consistently adjusting her game to maintain control of the match.

"To be able to make it into semis, each year is something I don't, don't take for granted. I'm always fighting, always, trying to improve on my, my own game and, learn. And so I'm really happy to make it here. But obviously, you know, the goal, the dream is always to keep going to, to win the Pan-Am Cup. And so, that's what I'm shooting for this time," said Zhang after the match.

Zhang will next face Canada’s Mo Zhang, renewing one of the most evenly matched rivalries in the Pan American region. Their encounters are often decided by the narrowest of margins, frequently stretching to seven games, with momentum shifting rapidly between the two. Both players have proven capable of defeating the other on the biggest stages, setting the stage for a compelling semifinal.

On the opposite side of the women’s bracket, Amy Wang will take on defending Americas Cup champion Bruna Takahashi of Brazil for the final spot in the championship match. Takahashi has remained a top 20 player in the world since their meeting in the semifinals of the 2025 Americas Cup, adding excitement to what promises to be an intense rematch with Wang.

In men’s singles action, Kanak Jha advanced to the semifinals after outlasting Angel Naranjo in a six-game battle, winning 4–2 (13-11, 11-6, 9-11, 3-11, 11-7, 11-3). Naranjo found his rhythm midway through the match and became difficult to contain, but Jha weathered the surge. Staying aggressive yet composed, he relied on his speed and power to close out the contest.

Jha will now face Eugene Wang of Canada in a rematch of last year’s Americas Cup final. Wang is coming off a dramatic comeback victory over Gustavo Gomez of Chile, rallying from three games down to win 4–3. Battling through a back injury, Wang showed remarkable resilience, gaining momentum as he loosened up and ultimately overpowering Gomez in the closing games.

On the other half of the men’s bracket, Brazil’s Hugo Calderano dispatched Nikhil Kumar in five games, showcasing his exceptional short game to control rallies and set up his world-class backhand. Calderano will meet Argentina’s Horacio Cifuentes for a place in the final. Cifuentes secured his semifinal berth with in straight games win over Sid Naresh, earning a showdown with the world No. 3.

With the singles semifinalists locked in at the 2026 ITTF Americas Cup, all Pan American qualifiers for the ITTF World Cup 2026 in Macao, China, have now been confirmed.

n men’s singles, the region will be represented by Kanak Jha of the United States, Hugo Calderano of Brazil, Horacio Cifuentes of Argentina, and Eugene Wang of Canada. The women’s singles qualifiers include Amy Wang and Lily Zhang of the United States, along with Bruna Takahashi of Brazil and Mo Zhang of Canada.

Live coverage of the ITTF Americas Cup men’s and women’s singles semifinals and finals resumes at 11 a.m. Pacific on Sunday, February 1, 2026.

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