Doha, Qatar – In an electrifying display of skill and determination, the Chinese mainland's second-seeded player, Wang Chuqin, staged a stunning comeback at the ITTF World Championships. Falling two games behind against French competitor Simon Gauzy, who had previously knocked out his compatriot Lin Gaoyuan, Wang turned the tide with an unforgettable performance.
Wang admitted, "I was too nervous at the beginning. I thought too much and was too conservative. I let my opponent control the rhythm." In a bold move, he switched into a short-sleeved jersey before the third game – a change that seemed to unleash a calmer, more focused version of his game. He then clinched four straight games, proving that resilience can turn the tides of battle.
The drama of the day didn’t stop there. The Chinese mainland’s top seed Lin Shidong cruised into the quarterfinals with a 4-0 sweep over Sweden’s Anton Kallberg, setting up an anticipated clash with compatriot Liang Jingkun. On the women’s side, top seed Sun Yingsha overcame a shaky start to edge past South Korea’s ninth seed Shin Yu-bin in a nail-biting 4-2 win, and she will next face Japan’s Satsuki Odo.
In mixed doubles, the second-seeded duo of Wang and Sun showcased incredible chemistry, overcoming a slow start to defeat Japan’s Sora Matsushima and Miwa Harimoto 3-1. However, the Chinese mainland faced a setback in the men’s doubles when Lin Gaoyuan and Lin Shidong were eliminated by the sixth-seeded pair from Chinese Taipei, Kao Cheng-Jui and Lin Yun-Ju.
With unexpected turns and thrilling moments lighting up the arena, the ITTF World Championships continue to spark excitement. Stay tuned for more epic table tennis action as the tournament advances into the quarterfinals! 🏓🔥
Reference(s):
Wang Chuqin fights into last eight at Table Tennis World Championships
cgtn.com
