In a breakthrough performance at the ITTF World Cup in south China's Macao Special Administrative Region, rising star Lin Shidong rallied from a game down to overcome seasoned Liang Jingkun 4-1 (13-15, 11-4, 11-5, 11-8, 11-7), clinching his first-ever berth in a World Cup final.
Liang, 28, leveraged his experience to snatch the opener 15-13, but Lin's blistering pace and agile court coverage shifted the tide. With commanding wins of 11-4 and 11-5 in games two and three, Lin seized momentum and never looked back.
Despite two service fouls costing him four points, Lin kept his cool. "I think the referee made the right call. Maybe I didn't serve high enough. It's the correct call," he said, underscoring his sportsmanship in the pressure cooker of high-stakes competition.
Earlier, Brazil's Hugo Calderano mounted an astonishing fightback against home favorite Wang Chuqin. Trailing 3-1 after a tight 14-12 opener, Calderano rolled off three straight games (11-7, 11-5, 12-10) to seal his spot in the final and set up a thrilling title clash with Lin.
The Sunday night final promises a showcase of contrast: Lin's youthful explosiveness versus Calderano's veteran resilience. For fans of fast-paced rallies and tactical depth, this is table tennis at its finest.
Reference(s):
Lin Shidong defeats Liang Jingkun for ITTF World Cup final debut
cgtn.com
