In a stunning display of resilience and teamwork at the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals in Doha, Qatar, China’s dynamic duo Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha brushed aside an early racket hiccup to secure a decisive mixed doubles win against Brazil’s Hugo Calderano and Bruna Takahashi (11-2, 11-7, 11-4).
Minutes before kickoff, Wang discovered that part of his racket's rubber had come off. With questions raised by coach Xiao Zhan, the umpire quickly determined that no intentional tampering had occurred and allowed Wang to use his backup racket. The incident didn’t slow the pair down as they maintained their focus and dominated the match.
The win not only advanced them to the round of 16, but when their next opponents from Romania withdrew due to injury, Wang and Sun automatically clinched a spot in the quarterfinals. Reflecting on the match, Wang admitted, "Our opponents are a new pair and we hadn't played them before, so I felt a little insecure. We made full preparations and did well from the beginning." Sun added, "Our teamwork is getting better," highlighting the improved chemistry after several months apart.
Adding to the day’s excitement, both players excelled in their singles matches, with Wang sweeping a win in men's singles and Sun dominating her opponent from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in the women’s singles. Their impressive performances remind us that every challenge, no matter how unexpected, can be overcome with preparation and determination. Keep your eyes on the table—this championship is heating up! 🏓🔥
Reference(s):
Wang shrugs off racket problem to advance with Sun in mixed doubles
cgtn.com
