Bhubaneswar: China once again underlined its dominance in world table tennis and achieved a sensational double victory by comfortably winning both the men’s and women’s team championships. The victories not only underlined China’s unrivaled strength and consistency across gender lines, but also demonstrated that the country’s next generation of stars is up to the challenge against their regional rivals.
In the men’s team final, China defeated Hong Kong (China) with a resounding 3-0 win, demonstrating precision, power and composure in every game.
World No. 1 Lin Shidong gave China the perfect start by defeating Wong Chun Ting 11-8, 11-4, 11-4 in a one-sided affair. Lin’s aggressive forehand play and quick transitions kept Wong under constant pressure and set the tone for the rest of the match.
No. 2 Wang Chuqin then produced a spirited performance against Chan Baldwin, overcoming moments of resistance and prevailing 12-10, 11-9, 5-11, 14-12. After losing the third game, Wang came through hard in the fourth, saving several game points before sealing the victory with trademark backhand precision and emotional punches that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
At the end of the duel, No. 7 Liang Jingkun showed his experience and mental strength and defeated Yiu Kwan Go 13-11, 11-6, 12-10. Liang’s consistency in rallies and his ability to score points at crucial moments secured China’s clean victory and sparked jubilant celebrations from the bench.
Their women stood steadfast at the summit and comfortably defeated Japan 3-0 in the final. The victory not only extended China’s extraordinary dominance in the sport, but also showcased its remarkable depth, adaptability and poise under pressure – traits that continue to set them apart on the world stage.
The opener between world No. 2 Wang Manyu and 11th-ranked Honoka Hashimoto was a microcosm of China’s resilience. Hashimoto took the first game 12:10 through sharp defensive positions and precise counter blocks and forced Wang into the back line early on. But Wang quickly recalibrated himself, switching from heavy topspin rallies to flatter, faster attacks that took the Japanese defender out of position. From then on her rhythm was unstoppable as she stormed the next three games 11-3, 11-6, 11-3 to secure the important first point for China.
Next, Sun Yingsha – the undisputed anchor of the Chinese lineup and world No. 1 – took on Japan’s teenage sensation Miwa Harimoto. Although the game ended 11-9, 11-5 and 11-7 in a row, it was anything but one-sided. Harimoto’s fearless shots and early counterattacks briefly kept Sun on his toes, but the Chinese star’s tactical intelligence soon prevailed.
Sun used her trademark quick backhand exchange and razor-sharp receiving game to neutralize Harimoto’s aggression. Her serve variations – alternating between short underspin and sudden fast topspin – forced weak returns across the board, allowing Sun to dictate rallies from the first shot.
This 2-0 lead effectively broke Japan’s resistance. With each rally, China’s authority grew.
The final game pitted rising Chinese star Kuai Man against Japan’s Hina Hayata, the experienced left-hander known for her creative topspin play. Hayata started brightly, winning the first game 11-8 with sharp cross-court placings that kept Kuai on the move. But the momentum changed dramatically in the second game when Kuai saved several game points to make the score 12-10 – a crucial psychological turning point that changed the nature of the game. Her serve-return precision also improved, disrupting Hayata’s rhythm and limiting her signature wide-angle shots. Kuai finished the next two games 11-6, 11-9, emphatically sealing both the game and the championship.
The results (final):
Men: China vs. Hong Kong 3-0 (Lin Shidong vs. Wong Chun Ting 11-8, 11-4, 11-4, Wang Chuqin vs. Chan Baldwin 12-10, 11-9, 5-11, 14-12, Liang Jingkun vs. Yiu Kwan Go 13-11, 11-6, 12-10).
Women: Japan 3-0 (Wang Manyu vs. Honomoto 10-12, 11-3, 11-3; Sun Yingharimoto 11-9, 11-5, 11-5, 11-5, 11-7; Kuai Man vs. Hina Hayata 8-11-11-6, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6
