The Chinese Table Tennis Association has unveiled its roster for the upcoming International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Men’s and Women’s World Cup, set to take place in the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) from April 14 to 20.
The 10-player lineup features prominent names such as Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha, who recently clinched individual titles at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Champions in Chongqing Municipality. Their inclusion signals China’s intent to dominate the competition.
In the men’s category, Wang Chuqin will be joined by Lin Shidong, Liang Jingkun, Lin Gaoyuan, and Huang Youzheng. The women’s team comprises Sun Yingsha, Wang Manyu, Wang Yidi, Chen Xingtong, and Kuai Man.
The qualification criteria for the World Cup, outlined by the ITTF in February, included automatic spots for current world champions, U19 world champions, and players who qualified through Continental Cups and global rankings.
Reigning Olympic champion Fan Zhendong, despite receiving an invitation due to his status, has opted not to participate, citing personal reasons. His absence opens the door for emerging talent to shine on the world stage.
Wang Hao, head coach of the Chinese men’s team, expressed high hopes for his players. “None of them have won the singles World Cup before; they are hungry for the championship,” he said. “I hope they can demonstrate their skills with the best mentality and form, and that one of them can achieve a breakthrough.”
Since the start of the year, the Chinese women’s team has shown remarkable consistency, sweeping the semifinal spots at major events like the WTT Singapore Smash, Asian Cup, and WTT Champions Chongqing. Ma Lin, the women’s head coach, praised their performance. “These five players have been the most consistent and have achieved favorable results against competitors from other teams,” he remarked. “We need to maintain this momentum, approach the World Cup in top form, and strive for the best possible result.”
