China once again dominated the World Table Tennis Championships taking home four gold medals out of five that were on offer. However, they failed to make a clean sweep at the event that took place in Doha, as fans would have expected.
Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha won the men’s and women’s singles titles respectively. While Wang won his first championship crown, Sun had her second, adding to their third straight mixed doubles event they had taken on Saturday.
Wang Manyu and Kuai Man emerged victorious in the women’s doubles, after Wang had forced the best out of Sun in a seven-set women’s singles thriller.
In a setback. the Doha world championships marks the first time since 1975 that China has failed to reach the semifinals of the men’s doubles event.
Japan’s Hiroto Shinozuka and Shunsuke Togami claimed the men’s doubles title with a 3-2 victory over Chinese Taipei’s Kao Cheng-Jui and Lin Yun-Ju. This was Japan’s first men’s doubles title at the World Championships since 1961.
Hugo Calderano of Brazil also made history by becoming the first South American finalist at the World Championships on Saturday. However, Wang Chuqin got the better of him with 12-10, 11-3, 4-11, 11-2, 11-7 win in 46 minutes.
“I saw myself as a challenger to Calderano, who is a new World Cup champion and has been in top form, especially after a great game yesterday,” said Wang. “But I had a strong will to fight and was very hungry for victory.”
The world No. 1 Sun defeated second-ranked Wang Manyu 4-3 to retain her women’s singles title at World Table Tennis Championships.
She prevailed over the 2021 world champion in a thrilling final, winning 11-8, 12-10, 8-11, 5-11, 12-10, 11-13, 11-7 in 88 minutes.
It was also the 16th consecutive women’s singles final at the world championships to feature two Chinese finalists since 1995, highlighting their dominance in this event.
Also Read: Understanding The Dominance Of China In Table Tennis
Wang saved three match points, including an edge ball that went in her favor, and went on to win the sixth set and led 3-0 in the deciding set, before Sun took four straight points from 7-7.
“Manyu and I have been playing against each other since we were children. Our games are always very close.”
Despite a formidable performance, Team China’s apparent decline of dominance on the men’s side, at the world championships has raised concerns over its prospects for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, where the two team events have been replaced by men’s and women’s doubles on the Games’ program.
The adjustment is expected to pose a challenge for China’s ambition of a clean sweep of all golds at LA 2028.
World Table Tennis Championships 2025: Medal tally
Men’s Singles
| Medal | Athlete(s) | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | Wang Chuqin | China |
| Silver | Hugo Calderano | Brazil |
| Bronze | Liang Jingkun | China |
| Bronze | Truls Möregårdh | Sweden |
| Medal | Athlete(s) | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | Sun Yingsha | China |
| Silver | Wang Manyu | China |
| Bronze | Mima Ito | Japan |
| Bronze | Chen Xingtong | China |
| Medal | Athlete(s) | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | Hiroto Shinozuka / Shunsuke Togami | Japan |
| Silver | Lin Yun-ju / Kao Cheng-jui | Chinese Taipei |
| Bronze | Alexis Lebrun / Félix Lebrun | France |
| Bronze | Esteban Dorr / Florian Bourrassaud | France |
| Medal | Athlete(s) | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | Wang Manyu / Kuai Man | China |
| Silver | Sofia Polcanova / Bernadette Szőcs | Austria / Romania |
| Bronze | Shin Yu-bin / Ryu Han-na | South Korea |
| Bronze | Miwa Harimoto / Miyuu Kihara | Japan |
| Medal | Athlete(s) | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | Wang Chuqin / Sun Yingsha | China |
| Silver | Maharu Yoshimura / Satsuki Odo | Japan |
| Bronze | Lim Jong-hoon / Shin Yu-bin | South Korea |
| Bronze | Wong Chun Ting / Doo Hoi Kem | Hong Kong |
