Wang Chuqin beats HK vet at world championships

RTHK

21-05-2025

Wang Chuqin beats HK vet at world championships
Wang Chuqin says he had to try not to make mistakes in his match against Wong Chun-ting. File photo: NurPhoto/AFP
A composed Wang Chuqin has overpowered Hong Kong player Wong Chun-ting in the men's singles third round of the World Table Tennis Championships.
One day after he shouted "why always me" over a damaged racket, the Chinese second seed played an aggressive game on Tuesday to nail a 12-10, 11-6, 11-5, 11-7 victory over the 33-year-old.
"Wong is quite a strong player and I tried not to make mistakes," said Wang.
"By taking the first set, I felt I was on the right way."
Wang said his peace of mind has been restored following an eventful day which saw his racket damaged and the Chinese Table Tennis Association protest and appeal to the sport's governing body ITTF.
Minutes before Wang and Sun Yingsha took on Brazil's Hugo Calderano and Bruna Takahashi on Monday, Wang found part of the rubber had come off his blade and questioned the umpire if anyone had mishandled the racket.
"Since I had a worse situation in the Paris Olympics, I was able to regain my cool soon enough," said Wang, referring to the incident in which his racket was broken, allegedly by photographers.
Wang will next play France's 43-ranked Simon Gauzy, who upset 16th-ranked Chinese Lin Gaoyuan 2-11, 11-8, 13-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-3.
The Frenchman recovered after a slow start, showcasing a strong mentality and tactical brilliance to overcome the former world No 2 who has dropped in ranking following a lackluster season.
Fifth seed Liang Jingkun of China whitewashed Portugal's Marcos Freitas 4-0 (11-8, 11-2, 11-5, 16-14) to join France's Felix Lebrun in the fourth round.
Sixth seeds Kao Cheng-Jui and Lin Yun-Ju from Chinese Taipei edged out Liang and Huang Yongzheng, seeded ninth, in five sets (3-11, 11-8, 13-11, 13-15, 11-4).
Lebrun, the top-ranked player using a penhold grip, came from 2-1 down to defeat South Korea's Oh Jun-sung in six sets (11-5, 9-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-5).
In women's singles action, China's fourth seed Wang Yidi and 16th seed Shi Xunyao both made it to the last 16.
The morning session also produced significant results in the mixed doubles round of 16.
Top seeds Lin Shidong and Kuai Man of China looked dominant in their 11-2, 11-3, 11-6 demolition of Austria's Robert Gardos and Sofia Polcanova, while fifth seeds Sora Matsushima and Miwa Harimoto of Japan shut out Egypt's Youssef Abdelaziz and Mariam Alhodaby 13-11, 11-5, 11-4.
Kuai also made it to the women's doubles quarterfinals with Wang Manyu.
Seeded second, they defeated the Hong Kong duo of Lee Hoi-man and Kong Tsz-lam 11-6, 11-6, 11-5. (Xinhua)