Sun Yingsha Photo: Xinhua
The 2025 Table Tennis World Cup in the Macao SAR concluded on Sunday with China securing the women’s title in an all-Chinese final while China’s Lin Shidong fell short in the men’s singles final.
On the women’s side, the Chinese team swept the podium in a dominant run that culminated in an all-China final. Sun Yingsha claimed the gold over Kuai Man 4-0, while the team collected one gold and two silvers across both brackets.
“I’m very happy to win the match. Kuai was in excellent form, so I prepared for a tough battle. I’m satisfied with the result, though there are still aspects of my performance that need reflection,” Sun said in a post-match interview.
In the men’s singles final, Lin fell to Brazil’s Hugo Calderano 4-1, who delivered a strong performance against one of China’s rising stars.
“Hugo’s always a tough opponent for Chinese players. His style is unorthodox and hard to read,” Beijing-based sports commentator Wang Dazhao told the Global Times on Sunday.
The two had only met once before – at the 2023 WTT Contender Durban – where a less experienced Lin narrowly lost in a five-set thriller.
In Macao, Lin showed just how far he’s come.
“Now’s the time for Lin to step up,” Wang said. “The result itself is secondary, what really matters is that he’s proving he can carry the load.”
The singles draw saw intense competition not just in the finals. In the men’s bracket, Wang Chuqin also suffered a heartbreaking semifinal loss after seven grueling games to Calderano, missing the final by just two points, which drew heated discussion online.
“There’s no issue with Chuqin’s ability,” Wang told the Global Times. “Both Calderano and Tomokazu Harimoto still fear Wang. But being mature doesn’t mean you win every time. When you lose at this level, it tends to get magnified.”
Still, the commentator acknowledged there is room for growth.
“Chuqin’s under pressure. The World Cup carries weight, and when you need to make a name for yourself in a major tournament, expectations become a burden. That might have contributed to his anxiety during key moments,” Wang noted.
The Macao tournament also reflected a generational shift. For both Lin and Kuai, this marked their first time reaching a final in one of the sport’s major events.
“Kuai is young and tactically unpredictable,” Wang said. “She hits with pinpoint accuracy and controls the table well. She’s improving fast. The more matches she plays, the faster she’ll mature.”
The tournament came just days after the International Olympic Committee announced a major overhaul of Olympic table tennis formats.
Starting at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, men’s and women’s doubles will replace the current team events, and a new mixed team event will be added.
Wang expressed that the new rules shouldn’t rattle China.
“Every country wants that breakthrough moment against China – but even at our weakest, there’s no one that can challenge China comprehensively,” he said. “Having competitors push us is what keeps the sport alive. Without that pressure, there’s no growth.”
Following the World Cup, the 2025 World Table Tennis Championships will be held from May 17 to 25 in Doha, Qatar.
