2025 China Table Tennis Super League Finals Photo: VCG

The 2025 China Table Tennis Super League ­Finals concluded Sunday in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province, with Shenzhen University claiming the women's team championship in the morning session, while the men's team title saw Shandong Weiqiao beating Huangshi Huaxin in the final match of the season. 

The women's team final tipped off at 11 am, with Shenzhen University defeating Shandong Luneng in a tightly contested matchup that unfolded without two of the sport's biggest names: World No.1 Sun Yingsha did not appear for Shenzhen University, while Shandong Luneng were also without their leading player, Wang Manyu.

Shenzhen University entered the final led by Jiangsu's famous athlete Kuai Man, alongside Japan's Hirano Miu and young prospect Qin Yuxuan. Shandong Luneng fielded Chen Xingtong, Qian Tianyi and Liu Yi, after Wang was confirmed absent from the lineup.

The Shenzhen team took early control in the opening doubles match, as Kuai and Hirano swept past Chen and Qian 3-0, winning 11-6, 11-7, 11-6. The momentum continued in the second match, where Qin delivered a composed performance to defeat Xu Yi 3-0 (13-11, 11-8, 11-8), extending Shenzhen's lead.

Chen pulled one point back for Shandong in the third match, overpowering Hirano in straight games, 11-9, 11-5, 11-6. However, Shenzhen sealed the championship in the fourth match, as Qin outlasted Qian 3-1 to secure victory.

The Olympic champion Sun withdrew from the WTT Finals Hong Kong 2025 earlier this month due to physical discomfort and was not listed in Shenzhen University's official squad for the league. The club confirmed her absence on China's X-like platform Sina Weibo, thanking her for years of dedication. In a video attached to the post, Sun expressed regret over missing the final and wished her teammates success.

Wang's absence similarly altered the narrative of the final. Fans had hoped for a rematch between Wang and Kuai after their six-game duel in the WTT Finals Hong Kong women's singles final earlier this month, during which Wang defended her title with a 4-2 victory. With both team leaders sidelined, the final instead became a test of depth and composure.

During the evening session that started at 7 pm on Sunday, attention turned to the men's team final, in which Shandong Weiqiao, led by Wang Chuqin, Liang Jingkun and Lin Yun-Ju, faced Huangshi Huaxin, featuring Xiang Peng.

Wang Chuqin, who had withdrawn from the WTT Finals Hong Kong earlier in December because of an injury, said after the men's team semifinals that his condition had improved following a period of rest. 

He said he weighed carefully whether he should compete, adding, "This is the last tournament of the year. I didn't want to leave any regrets or end 2025 with two withdrawals."

While the Super League may not match the global reach of WTT events, it remains one of the highest-level domestic competitions for domestic club teams, Beijing-based sports commentator Luo Le told the Global Times on Sunday. 

Growing public interest in table tennis has driven demand to unprecedented levels in recent years, with tickets for main games selling out quickly and player movements drawing attention on social media, he added.