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SCMP Sport

Wang Liqin has stepped into the Chinese table tennis hot seat at a time when the temperature could not be higher.
Replacing Liu Guoliang as the president of the Chinese Table Tennis Association, Wang’s leadership begins with the country’s status under pressure, after Brazil’s Hugo Calderano won the men’s singles at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Cup in Macau.
And the 46-year-old faces the task of maintaining China’s dominance in a sport where international challengers are gaining ground.
“It is a tremendous responsibility to take over as president of the Chinese Table Tennis Association,” Wang said. “I feel both excited and anxious.”

A two-time Olympic gold medallist in his own right, Wang’s second triumph, at the 2008 Beijing Games, came under the coaching of the man he has replaced. Success at the 2028 Games is also expected.
“The immediate task is the World Championships in Doha, and the long-term goal is the Los Angeles Olympics,” he said.
Wang credits his rise within the officialdom of Chinese table tennis to his predecessor’s support.
“It was coach Liu who guided me to fulfil my dreams as an athlete,” Wang said. “Since becoming a sports official, I’ve always sought his advice. He holds the key to Chinese dominance in this game.”
But Wang is certainly his own man and his dedication to his performance made an impression on his peers
Former world No 1 Zhang Jike said Wang was, “never, ever late for training, he was always the first to arrive at the gymnasium”.
And since his appointment, the new boss has overseen a 15-day, behind-closed-doors training camp in Chengdu, where players trained until 10pm.
There was also a strict no-phones rule, with players and coaches banned from using cellphones or updating social media at meal times and even during their breaks. Wang also reportedly cancelled a May 1 Labour Day holiday for all the players, while calling on former national team players, such as Liu Shiwen and Xu Xin, as trainers.
At one of the public charity events in Chengdu, Wang led the entire team out to mingle with the community, including playing table tennis with fans. But he did not let players give interviews, suggesting China was a team and no single player should get the limelight.
Wang’s arrival came on the back of one of the most controversial periods for Chinese table tennis in recent years, after Ma Long, Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng withdrew from the rankings following an announcement that players who missed World Table Tennis (WTT) tournaments to play in other events could be fined, with those in the top 20 facing a penalty of US$5,000.
However, Wang’s appointment could mean a return for the 28-year-old Fan, who reportedly regards Wang as a mentor-like figure.
Liu said he was stepping down to spend more time with his family and to give his replacement time to prepare for the next Olympics in 2028.
“I resigned at the right time to give the new CTTA leadership a full cycle to prepare for the LA Games,” he said at the time.
However, one of the accusations during Liu’s reign was the rise of “toxic fandom”, which culminated in a turbulent all-Chinese Olympic women’s final in Paris. Chen was jeered and suffered abuse on social media after her 4-2 victory over fan-favourite Sun Yingsha.
But there were positive developments for Chinese table tennis when, on April 9, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced the addition of a mixed-team event to the 2028 Games.
The IOC brought the total number of table tennis events in LA to six after replacing the men’s and women’s team events with men’s and women’s doubles.

But first, it is the World Championships. Calderano is considered the biggest challenge to China’s dominance after his victory in Macau but the Chinese delegation in Doha appears youthful with the omission of reigning Olympic champions Ma, Fan and Chen.
The Brazilian, seeded No 3, is in the top half of the draw alongside world No 1 Lin Shidong, which means the pair cannot meet until the semi-final stage.
Xue Fei is the first Chinese player to potentially face Calderano, should he get past Hiroto Shinozuka, the world No 21 from Japan, in the opening round.
While Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto is one of the biggest threats to world No 2 Wang Chuqin in the bottom half, the earliest the pair could meet would be in the last four.


China’s Wang Chuqin, Sun Yingsha expected to progress at WTT Champions Macau

Supporters certain Fan Zhendong ‘will be back’ after losses in German table tennis league

Lin Shidong beaten in thriller at WTT Europe Smash, Moregard eyes ‘big party’

WTT Europe Smash: Hong Kong duo ‘played braver’ to win men’s doubles final

ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation)

Maintaining China’s table tennis dominance top of large pile on Wang Liqin’s plate

Fan Zhendong was among China’s big-name omissions for the World Championships. Photo: Xinhua

Wang Liqin (left) is the new president of the Chinese Table Tennis Association. Photo: Xinhua

Hugo Calderano’s World Cup triumph pierced China’s dominance of the men’s game. Photo: Xinhua

Who is Hugo Calderano, Brazilian table tennis star who finally beat the Chinese?

Brazil’s Hugo Calderano is all smiles after beating Lin Shidong in the ITTF World Cup final in Macau. Photo: Xinhua

Bring back Fan Zhendong, Ma Long? Chinese table tennis fans rue Lin’s Macau loss

China’s Lin Shidong on his way to defeat in his final against Hugo Calderano at the ITTF Men’s and Women’s World Cup. Photo: Xinhua

Brazil’s Hugo Calderano poses with his trophy after beating Lin Shidong in the final. Photo: Xinhua

Sport

China

Two-time Olympic gold medallist has to guide his new charges through World Championships and bring Fan Zhendong back into fold


Two-time Olympic gold medallist has to guide his new charges through World Championships and bring Fan Zhendong back into fold.


Wang Chuqin

Ma Long

Chen Meng

Fan Zhendong