The 2024 World Table Tennis (WTT) Finals in Fukuoka, Japan, witnessed a remarkable performance from Chinese athletes as five players advanced to the singles semifinals. Demonstrating their prowess and consistency, Chinese competitors secured their places in both the men's and women's singles events.
In a thrilling men's singles quarterfinal match, defending champion Wang Chuqin showcased his skill against Sweden's Truls Moregard. Wang started strong, winning the first game 11-6. Moregard fought back in the second game, leading 8-2 before Wang mounted a comeback to narrow the gap to 10-9. After a timeout called by Moregard, the Swedish Olympic silver medalist leveled the match.
Maintaining his composure under pressure, Wang triumphed in the next two games with scores of 11-6 and 11-9, ultimately securing a 3-1 victory and advancing to the semifinals. "I approached this match as a challenger," Wang commented. "You could see that he has made significant progress, and is in excellent form, so I had to give my all for every point."
Wang will now face Slovenia's Darko Jorgic, who earned his semifinal spot by defeating Germany's Benedikt Duda 3-0. While China's delegation celebrated these successes, the female doubles duo Qian Tianyi and Chen Xingtong faced elimination, marking a bittersweet moment for the team.
Reference(s):
Five Chinese table tennis players reach WTT Finals singles semifinals
cgtn.com
