Chinese paddler Wang Chuqin plays in the semifinals of the 2024 World Team Table Tennis Championships in Busan, South Korea, on February 24, 2024. Photo: VCG

The Chinese men's table tennis team faces a formidable challenge at the 2025 World Table Tennis Championships Finals in Doha, Qatar, which kicks off on Saturday and is set to run till May 25.

In the absence of legends Ma Long and Fan Zhendong, a new generation of players has stepped up trying to uphold China's dominance in the sport.

The path to defending the titles is fraught with stern challenges, especially the men's singles. World No.1 Lin Shidong's tough draw and World No.2 Wang Chuqin's recent struggles with form and confidence add uncertainty to China's prospects. In addition, the rise of international competitors such as the Lebrun brothers of France and recent World Cup winner Hugo Calderano of Brazil intensifies the competition, according to sports observers.

Wang Dazhao, a Beijing-based sports commentator, told the Global Times that the worlds are an essential part of the growth journey for China's young athletes.
In recent years, China's young table tennis players have made notable progress, but they still lack opportunities to compete regularly against the world's top-tier opponents. The absence of veterans Ma and Fan at the worlds offers a valuable chance for the younger generation to step up and gain crucial experience, Wang noted. 

"At this stage, whether they win or lose is less important. A loss can help them identify gaps and accumulate experience. Only by going through the trials of a high-level tournament like the worlds can these young athletes truly mature and lay a solid foundation for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics," Wang said. 

This is also the first major international tournament since Wang Liqin took over as president of the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA) from Liu Guoliang in April. Ma Long was named vice president of CTTA. 

"The Doha World Championships mark the first major event of the new Olympic cycle and the most important part of our competition plan for this year. We hope to make a strong statement in this opening tournament," said the new president. 

Mounting pressure

In the last edition of the worlds in Durban, South Africa, in 2023, China swept all five titles on offer as Fan and Sun Yingsha claimed the men's and women's singles title respectively.

Wang, 46, faces the task of maintaining China's dominance in a sport where international challengers are gaining ground.

At the ITTF Men's and Women's World Cup held in Macao in April, Hugo Calderano became the first Brazilian paddler to win the men's singles gold at the World Cup by stunning Lin Shidong 4-1 in the final, marking the first time since 2017 that China failed to secure a singles title in one of the sport's three major events - the Olympics, the worlds and World Cup.

At just 19 years old, Lin ascended to the top of the world rankings in February, becoming the youngest male player in history to top the rankings. However, this tournament will be his first appearance in the men's singles at the worlds. His draw is particularly challenging, with potential matches against France's Lebrun brothers and Calderano.

World No.2 Wang Chuqin will also be aiming for his first singles title in one of the sport's three major events.

Japan's Tomokazu Harimoto and Sweden's Truls Moregard stand out as serious title threats, as they are both known for their aggressive playstyles and big-stage performances, Liu Yu, another sports commentator told the Global Times. 

A key storyline to watch at these worlds will be how China's men's singles players respond to this intensifying global competition, Liu said. 

The Chinese team also features young talents including 19-year-old Huang Youzheng in the men's doubles and Shi Xunyao in the women's singles. Their development is part of China's strategic focus on building a robust team for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Liu noted.

The International Olympic Committee has introduced a mixed team event for the 2028 Olympics and replaced the men's and women's team competitions with men's and women's doubles events. With these changes, the total number of table tennis events at the Los Angeles Olympics will be six.

Wang Manyu defeats Miwa Harimoto of Japan 4-3 at the 2025 ITTF Men's and Women's World Cup on April 17, 2025. Photo: VCG

Healthy fan culture

During a 15-day training camp in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, ahead of the worlds, the Chinese team, led by new president Wang, engaged with more than 100 table tennis enthusiasts in an interactive session at a local sports park during the May Day holidays to celebrate their shared joy and passion for the sport.

The interactive session is a good example of building a healthy fan culture among the public and planting a seed of love for table tennis in the hearts of children watching on-site, Liu said. 

The Chinese table tennis team had been plagued by extreme fan behavior such as harassment of players, smear campaigns, privacy violations, and even disruptions at live events. 

One of the most controversial moments came during the all-Chinese women's final at the Paris Olympics, where eventual champion Chen Meng was booed and attacked online, while Sun Yingsha was vocally supported both in the arena and on social media.

Before the public event in Chengdu, Wang declined media requests to interview members of the Chinese team. He emphasized that the team was participating as a collective and did not wish to single out any individual.