Latest news with #ChineseTableTennisAssociation
South China Morning Post
29-05-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Lots of work to be done for China to return to top of men's table tennis, Wang says
China's top table tennis official has heaped praise on the country's paddlers after they swept the singles titles at the World Championships in Doha, but said challenges remained in improving the men's game. At the Lusail Sports Arena on Sunday, Wang Chuqin won his first world title in the men's singles, while compatriot Sun Yingsha defended her crown from two years ago. Wang and Sun also won the mixed doubles event, while Kuai Man and Wang Manyu won the women's competition. However, Japan's Hiroto Shinozuka and Shunsuke Togami won the men's doubles titles, with China failing to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 1975. 'We made it to the final in four events, and three of them were against athletes from other countries,' Wang Liqin, president of the Chinese Table Tennis Association, said. 'According to the previously set goals and calculations, we were very determined to reach the final and ultimately achieved this victory, including this time, in the men's singles event. Gold medallist Sun Yingsha (right) with compatriot and silver medallist Wang Manyu. Photo: EPA 'For us, the biggest challenge is the men. Compared to the women, our entire male team still needs to improve their ability and experience in major competitions.'
RTHK
21-05-2025
- Sport
- RTHK
Wang Chuqin beats HK vet at world championships
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)
South China Morning Post
06-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Maintaining China's table tennis dominance top of large pile on Wang Liqin's plate
Wang Liqin has stepped into the Chinese table tennis hot seat at a time when the temperature could not be higher. Advertisement Replacing Liu Guoliang as the president of the Chinese Table Tennis Association, Wang's leadership begins with the country's status under pressure, after Brazil's Hugo Calderano won the men's singles at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Cup in Macau. And the 46-year-old faces the task of maintaining China's dominance in a sport where international challengers are gaining ground. 'It is a tremendous responsibility to take over as president of the Chinese Table Tennis Association,' Wang said. 'I feel both excited and anxious.' A two-time Olympic gold medallist in his own right, Wang's second triumph, at the 2008 Beijing Games, came under the coaching of the man he has replaced. Success at the 2028 Games is also expected. Hugo Calderano's World Cup triumph in Macau pierced China's dominance of the men's game. Photo: Xinhua 'The immediate task is the World Championships in Doha, and the long-term goal is the Los Angeles Olympics,' he said.
South China Morning Post
26-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Departure of table tennis chief comes at a critical time
China's love of table tennis, a sport deeply embedded in the country's history and culture, cannot be overstated. The medal-winning feats of star players are a source of national pride. Advertisement The sudden resignation of the mainland's table tennis chief has, therefore, understandably prompted much reflection on the future development of the sport in China. Liu Guoliang, who stepped down as president of the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA) on Wednesday, has been a prominent figure since emerging as a talented player in his teens. As national team coach he guided Chinese players to nine Olympic gold medals out of a possible 10. He was elected head of the CTTA in 2018 and re-elected in 2023. Liu said he had decided to step down, midterm, to ensure the new leadership has adequate time to prepare for the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028. The aim is to ensure a smooth transition. But his departure comes at a critical time, only three days after the nation's men failed to win the ITTF World Cup singles in Macau. Advertisement The shock defeat suffered by world number one Lin Shidong to a Brazilian rival left fans in despair and calling for change.
South China Morning Post
25-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Fan Zhendong expected back in action soon, after naming of ‘mentor' Wang Liqin as CTTA head
The election of Wang Liqin as president of the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA) means Olympic champion Fan Zhendong's return to the national team could be just a matter of time, sport insiders believe. Advertisement Fan has not played since winning singles and team gold in Paris last year, and withdrew from the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) world rankings in late December. But the appointment of Wang, who is said to be a mentor-like figure to Fan, is expected to bring the 28-year-old back to the table after the two struck up a relationship in 2022. Having played twice for the People's Liberation Army Bayi team at the National Games in 2013 and 2017, Fan switched to play for Guangdong in 2021 after the Bayi team was disbanded. In 2022, mainland Chinese media reported that Fan had struck a deal to represent Shanghai, and Wang was said to have played a crucial role in the move. Former player Wang Liqin was elected chairman of the CTTA on Wednesday. Photo: IC photo Wang revealed then that he reached out to Fan as soon as the Bayi team was disbanded in late 2020, and both parties reached an agreement about the switch.
