China's Sun, Chuqin win singles world titles
World number one Sun overcame a stubborn challenge from Wang Manyu, outwitting the world number two in a thrilling final to clinch gold with a 4-3 victory in Doha.
Former champion Manyu, who beat Sun in the 2021 final, fought back from two games down and saved four championship points to take the contest down to the wire.
"We have played each other many times since childhood. So every time we meet in the finals, it would be a tough match," Sun said.
The 24-year-old started well, winning the first two games 11-6 12-10. Manyu bounced back to dominate the next two games, and was a point away from winning the fifth but Sun saved the game point and took it 12-10.
Sun quickly took a 10-6 lead in the sixth game, putting her a point away from winning the championship, but Manyu held her nerve to win the next three points.
The defending champion pushed for victory with a forehand that Manyu barely got her paddle to, but the ball soared up high and nicked the table, putting Wang level at 10-10.
Manyu seized the momentum to win the sixth game 13-11 and took a 3-0 lead in the decisive seventh.
"At that time my mentality fluctuated a little bit," Sun admitted.
Sun, who had beaten Wang in nine of their previous 10 meetings, rallied to win the seventh game 11-7, however, to secure the title.
"Every day I fought hard... and I cherished each game. And I'm extremely happy I managed to stand till the last," Sun added.
World number two Wang claimed his first singles gold at the World Championships, beating Calderano 4-1 to avenge his loss to the Brazilian at last month's World Cup.
World number three Calderano, the first Brazilian to win the World Cup, was no match for Chuqin's speed as the Asian Cup winner forced Calderano on to the defensive.
"After losing (at) the World Cup, I fell into doubt, especially during my training," said Chuqin. "So I had a challenger's mindset."
Chuqin, who lost the 2023 final to compatriot Fan Zhendong, took the first two games 12-10 11-3, and although Calderano bounced back in to win the third 11-4, the Chinese regained control to seal victory.
Earlier, Japan won the men's doubles title for the first time in 64 years, with Hiroto Shinozuka and Shunsuke Togami edging out Taiwan's Lin Yun-ju and Kao Cheng-jui 3-2.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BreakingNews.ie
30 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
'Last nation on earth without a football team' prepares for first competitive match
Marshall Islands assistant manager Justin Walley admits the actuality of kicking off the country's first ever international football match still feels like a dream. The Marshall Islands have long claimed to be 'the last nation on earth without a football team', and did not even have a federation until 2020, let alone the national set-up, which has only existed for the last two and a half years. Advertisement For some members of the squad, Thursday's meeting with the US Virgin Islands at the Outrigger Challenge Cup in Arkansas will be their first competitive game of 11 v 11 football – ever. 'There's a sort of unrealness to it that we can't believe it's actually happening,' Leicestershire-born Walley, who now lives in Bosnia and Herzegovina, told the PA news agency. 'But we've been working very hard and we're really focused on what's ahead of us. We've already had several days of hard work and planning. Hopefully we will be as ready as we can be.' Springdale, Arkansas might seem like an odd choice of location for the Marshall Islands-hosted four-team tournament, but it is an area which, as of 2019, boasted the highest concentration of Marshallese in continental United States. Advertisement Some members of the squad have been recruited from Majuro, the Kwajalein Atoll, and other parts of the Marshall Islands itself, with its population of around 37,500 – and no club football. Amazing support from the public and lots of football clubs around the world following us ahead of our first-ever games this week. Please keep the follows and love coming! It makes us feel stronger — Marshall Islands Soccer Federation (@SoccerFedMI) August 12, 2025 Several team members have moved to the United States, where some play for US colleges, while others have Marshallese heritage. Their technical director and head coach, Lloyd Owers, who joined in 2022, is based in Oxfordshire. As far as they are aware, the Marshall Islands is the only recognised UN member state not to have played an 11 v 11 international fixture. Advertisement Some local to Majuro participated in an initial team meeting 18 months ago, but, revealed Walley: 'In terms of an actual national team training camp, this is the first one we have ever done. Players have gathered in Arkansas for their first training camp (Marshall Islands Soccer Federation/PA) 'The guys flew in on Friday and Saturday, the first training session ever was on Saturday. We're trying to cram in five days of camp to be ready. 'We try to train like we would with any normal club side. We just try to develop what we've got. Some of the guys do play club football, some have never played 11-a-side. They've played futsal. 'We've been developing that all week, we've played a few sort of mini-games, so it's not as if they (will have) never played 11-a-side before, they will be ready.' Advertisement The federation hopes to be recognised by FIFA in the next five years (Marshall Islands Football Federation/PA) Walley hopes what started out as a group of men with a vision – but no infrastructure – will lead to FIFA recognition by 2030 at the latest, though the first step is acceptance into a confederation. Funding for their big international debut has come from sponsorship, a £21,573 crowdfunding campaign, and about 2000 shirts sold over the last couple of years. 'I think people weren't taking us seriously,' admits Walley, who says the side want to give 'the best account of themselves possible' in their historic match. He added: 'They weren't thinking that we could possibly pull this off, playing national teams. We've come a long, long way in a short time.' Advertisement
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters 2025 LIVE RESULTS: Ronnie O'Sullivan faces Kyren Wilson in quarter-finals
THIS year's thrilling Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters is rolling on at pace - and we are now into the quarter-finals in the battle for the huge £500,000 jackpot! Ronnie O'Sullivan came from 4-1 down to beat Chang Bingyu 6-5 and set up a blockbuster quarter-final clash with Kyren Wilson on Thursday. Mark Williams battered Shaun Murphy 6-1 in the last-16 and will meet Eliot Slessor in the next round. Neil Robertson narrowly overcame Mark Selby 6-4 to progress and faces Ali Carter in the quarter-finals.
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Baseball star carted off in tears after suffering heartbreaking injury in first game back after three months out
Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya suffered more heartbreak on Wednesday night as he was carted off the field - just eight innings into his return from injury. The Panamanian, 26, was playing his first game in three months after recovering from a left oblique strain. 'Thank God (I'm) healthy,' Amaya said on Tuesday. But at the top of the eighth in Chicago's game against Toronto on Wednesday, he took a brutal fall as he crossed first base. Amaya flew into the air and landed heavily on the ground. He stayed down and required immediate medical treatment. Chicago trainers eventually lifted Amaya on to a cart and he was driven off the field with a towel over his face. The 26-year-old was only activated from the injured list on Tuesday - having been sidelined since May 25 - but 24 hours later, Cubs manager Craig Counsell had more bad news. Miguel Amaya landed awkwardly on first base and was carted off the field. — Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) August 14, 2025 'You knew something was pretty seriously wrong pretty quickly,' Counsell said after the game. The manager revealed that X-rays did not show a fracture but Amaya's ankle is 'swollen up pretty good already.' Counsell added: 'It's an IL. It's bad luck, unfortunately, and we're going to miss him.' Rookie right-hander Cade Horton said of Amaya: 'Prayers to him. He's a special player, a great teammate... I hate to see what happened to him.' The third-year catcher has hit .281 with four home runs and 25 RBIs in 28 games. Amaya went 1-for-3 on Wednesday as Chicago earned a 4-1 win over the Blue Jays. Reese McGuire, who replaced him, and Carson Kelly are the other catchers on the roster.
