🏓 A New Chapter for Chinese Table Tennis: Wang Liqin Takes the Lead

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🏓 A New Chapter for Chinese Table Tennis: Wang Liqin Takes the Lead

Just months after China's clean sweep at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the winds of change are blowing in the heart of Chinese table tennis. On April 24, 2025, the legendary Wang Liqin officially succeeded Liu Guoliang as President of the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA), marking the beginning of a bold new era.

The timing couldn’t be more symbolic: just days earlier, Hugo Calderano shocked the world by breaking China’s singles dominance at the 2025 ITTF Men’s World Cup in Macao. That result set the tone for what lies ahead—renewed global pressure, a shifting power balance, and the urgent need for adaptation.

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🏆 From Gold Medals to Governance

Wang Liqin is no stranger to the international spotlight. A two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time World Champion, he formed the legendary trio “Two Wangs and One Ma” alongside Wang Hao and Ma Lin—who now serve as coaches of China’s national teams.

“I’m excited but also nervous. It’s a heavy responsibility,” said Wang Liqin during the CTTA’s 10th member congress. “Our preparation for Los Angeles 2028 has already begun. With the IOC adding a sixth gold medal event, we need to plan ahead.”

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🇨🇳 Legacy, Leadership, and Looking Forward

Wang’s appointment was widely supported, with Ma Long and Gao Yuanyi also elected as CTTA vice-presidents. Notably, Ma Long—still active as a top-level player—represents the CTTA’s emphasis on athlete-leaders who can bridge generations.

Outgoing president Liu Guoliang leaves behind a historic legacy. Elected in 2018, he led China to 9 out of 10 Olympic table tennis gold medals across the Tokyo and Paris Games. His leadership set the gold standard.

“Liu Guoliang’s efforts over eight Olympic cycles helped solidify China’s unmatched dominance in table tennis,” noted Liu Guoyong, Deputy Director of the General Administration of Sport of China.

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🔍 Challenges Ahead: Global Pressure Rising

Despite recent dominance, China’s men's singles supremacy showed signs of vulnerability in Macao, where Calderano defeated multiple Chinese players en route to gold. This result may serve as a crucial moment for Wang Liqin as he takes the reins.

His first major test as president? The World Team Table Tennis Championships in Doha, scheduled for May 17–25, 2025. China has named a full-strength squad, although Olympic champions Ma Long, Fan Zhendong, and Chen Meng will not compete.

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🏓 Leadership Evolution with Familiar Faces

This “New Era” doesn’t erase the past—it builds on it. Wang Liqin, Wang Hao, Ma Lin, and Ma Long are now united not only by past glory but by their shared commitment to Chinese table tennis’s future.

Their goal? To protect the legacy, develop the next generation, and adapt to a rapidly evolving global landscape.

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🔥 Wang Liqin vs Liu Guoliang – Who Leads the Future?

China’s table tennis throne has a new ruler 🇨🇳
Just days after Hugo Calderano’s historic win in Macao, Wang Liqin officially took over as CTTA President 🏆
Now the question is: can he defend China’s legacy in this new era?

🗳️ Vote now in our community poll!
Who do YOU think is the better CTTA President?

📊 Poll Options:

• Wang Liqin – The New Era Begins

• Liu Guoliang – The Golden Legacy

🧠 Let your voice be heard! Comment your thoughts and join the debate.

https://www.youtube.com/post/UgkxN4n3DErdWaoW7ztRynvsyeflak84xkd8

📸 Photos courtesy of IMAGO

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Source: China Daily. All rights belong to the original publisher.

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Hugo Calderano BLOCKED from WTT US Smash After Cuba Trip Shocker!

Hugo Calderano did not participate in the WTT US Smash due to bureaucratic difficulties related to his entry into the United States.

As a Portuguese citizen, Hugo would normally be eligible to enter the United States through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), since Portugal is part of the Visa Waiver Program for European Union countries.

Hugo submitted his ESTA application as usual. However, due to an unusually long processing time by the U.S. authorities, he proactively contacted U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). He was then informed that he was no longer eligible for the Visa Waiver Program, as he had traveled to Cuba in 2023 to compete in the Pan American Championships and the Olympic Qualifying Event for Paris 2024 — both sanctioned by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).

Faced with this situation, Hugo immediately took steps to obtain an emergency visa, with support from the United States Table Tennis Association (USATT) and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC). Although the emergency appointment was approved, there was no available consular interview slot that would allow him to travel in time for the competition.

“I followed the exact same protocol I’ve used for all my previous trips to the U.S. with my Portuguese passport. Once I was made aware of the issue, I mobilized my entire team to secure an emergency visa. Unfortunately, time was not on our side. It’s extremely frustrating to miss one of the season’s most important tournaments due to something beyond my control — especially after such a strong period of results,” Hugo stated.

Indeed, Hugo is currently enjoying the best form of his career. Over the past two months, he has celebrated two historic achievements: winning the 2024 World Cup and claiming the silver medal at the World Championships.

Just last weekend, he added another title by winning the WTT Star Contender Ljubljana — his eighth WTT title since the tour was rebranded in 2021. Also in June, he closed a remarkable chapter with Liebherr Ochsenhausen, helping the club secure the German Bundesliga title after nine consecutive seasons.

Ο Hugo Calderano στέφθηκε ξανά πρωταθλητής του WTT στη Λιουμπλιάνα

Ο «εκρηκτικός Βραζιλιάνος» Hugo Calderano κατέκτησε για δεύτερη συνεχόμενη χρονιά τον τίτλο στο WTT Star Contender Ljubljana, νικώντας τον Felix Lebrun στον τελικό του απλού ανδρών με 4-2 σετ (12-10, 15-13, 11-13, 8-11, 11-9, 11-6).

Αν ο Felix Lebrun χρειαζόταν επιπλέον κίνητρο για εκδίκηση μετά την περσινή του ήττα στον τελικό, το βρήκε όταν είδε τον αδερφό του, Alexis Lebrun, να ηττάται από τον Calderano στον φετινό ημιτελικό. Όπως αναμενόταν, ο τελικός ήταν μια σκληρή μάχη, με τους δύο παίκτες να αγωνίζονται με ένταση σε έναν συναρπαστικό αγώνα διάρκειας άνω των 51 λεπτών.

Ο Calderano μπήκε δυναμικά, αξιοποιώντας τη γνωστή του εκρηκτικότητα και παίρνοντας τον έλεγχο στις αρχικές φάσεις. Ο Lebrun όμως, δεν είναι τυχαία ανάμεσα στους κορυφαίους του κόσμου και άρχισε να βρίσκει ρυθμό, ισορροπώντας το παιχνίδι. Στο πρώτο σετ, ενώ βρισκόταν πίσω με 10-8, έσωσε δύο πόντους, αλλά ο Calderano κατάφερε τελικά να το κλείσει με 12-10.

Το δεύτερο σετ ξεκίνησε με αντιστροφή ρόλων: αυτή τη φορά ο Lebrun προηγήθηκε, κρατώντας τον ρυθμό του και φτάνοντας στο φαινομενικά ασφαλές 5-10. Όμως ο Calderano επέστρεψε δυναμικά, μειώνοντας σε 9-10 και αναγκάζοντας τον αντίπαλό του να πάρει τάιμ άουτ. Οι δυο τους πήγαν ξανά στους έξτρα πόντους, και όπως και στο πρώτο σετ, ο Calderano επικράτησε, σώζοντας συνολικά επτά σετ πόιντς.

Αυτή ήταν η τρίτη του κατάκτηση σε απλό ανδρών σε επίπεδο WTT Star Contender, συνεχίζοντας την εξαιρετική του πορεία το 2025. Τους τελευταίους δύο μήνες έχει γράψει ιστορία στους τελικούς του ITTF Παγκοσμίου Κυπέλλου Ανδρών και του Παγκοσμίου Πρωταθλήματος ITTF, ενώ ο νέος του τίτλος ήρθε ανήμερα των 29ων γενεθλίων του.

«Ο αγώνας ήταν σε πολύ υψηλό επίπεδο, νομίζω ότι και οι δύο παίξαμε εξαιρετικά. Ήταν μια μεγάλη πνευματική δοκιμασία – σχεδόν όλα τα σετ κρίθηκαν με διαφορά δύο πόντων. Ήταν θέμα λεπτομερειών, ποιος θα πάρει τους κρίσιμους πόντους. Ο Felix είναι σπουδαίος παίκτης, θα μπορούσε να είχε κερδίσει και αυτός. Είμαι πολύ χαρούμενος για αυτή τη νίκη», δήλωσε ο Hugo Calderano.

Πηγή: WTT