On October 10, during the men’s team final at the Asian Table Tennis Championships held in Astana, Kazakhstan, the Chinese national team triumphed over the team from Chinese Taipei with a score of 3-1, clinching the championship title.
According to the competition schedule, the final day’s matches required the top four teams to compete in doubleheader matches. In the semifinals earlier that day, the Chinese men’s team defeated South Korea 3-1, with Wang Chuqin contributing two points. In the other semifinal, Chinese Taipei eliminated India.
The Chinese men’s team lineup for the final featured Wang Chuqin, Lin Shidong, and Liang Jingkun. In the opening match, Wang faced Gao Chengrui. Wang demonstrated remarkable patience and maintained a high quality of play that kept him in control, securing the first victory in straight sets.
Next up was rising star Lin Shidong, who faced Lin Yun-ju from Chinese Taipei. Lin Shidong quickly took the first two games 11-7, but Lin Yun-ju fought back to win a game 11-8. The fourth game remained closely contested, but Lin Shidong showed courage under pressure to win and extend the team’s lead.
In the third match, Liang Jingkun went up against Huang Yanzheng. After splitting the first four games 2-2, Liang took an early lead in the decisive game at 4-1 thanks to repeated attacks on Huang’s forehand. However, after a timeout, Huang turned the tables, capturing the game point first. Liang managed to tie the score, but Huang capitalized on a crucial moment to clinch the game 12-10, putting Chinese Taipei on the board.
In the fourth match, Wang Chuqin confronted Lin Yun-ju again. Wang struggled initially against Lin’s aggressive style, losing the first two games. However, he bounced back in the third game, leveraging his consistency to secure a win. The two rallied to a 7-7 tie in the fourth game, after which Lin Yun-ju reached game point. Nevertheless, Wang went on a five-point run to complete an impressive turnaround. Once he overcame the pressure of game point, Wang’s aggressive play became too much for Lin to handle, and he ultimately secured the match, sealing the 3-1 victory for the Chinese men’s team and their championship win.
Following two wins in the semifinals, Wang Chuqin delivered another critical performance in the final, marking a flawless day with four victories against Wu Jun-cheng, An Zai-hyun, Gao Chengrui, and Lin Yun-ju, helping his team reach the top.
About the author