In a thrilling semifinal at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Champions in Chongqing Municipality, Wang Chuqin of the Chinese mainland staged an impressive comeback to defeat Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto 4-1 on Sunday.
Despite dropping the first game 12-10 after leading 10-9, Wang remained unfazed. Having triumphed in 10 of their previous 12 encounters, he was determined to turn the tide. He dominated the second game with a swift 6-1 lead, closing it out 11-5 to level the match.
Wang continued his momentum, securing the third and fourth games 11-6 and 11-5, respectively. Harimoto fought hard in the fifth game, but Wang’s relentless offense earned him an 11-7 victory, sealing his place in the final.
He will face compatriot Lin Shidong in the championship match, after Lin defeated Liang Jingkun in the other semifinal.
In the women’s singles, top seed Sun Yingsha showcased remarkable resilience against Wang Yidi in an all-Chinese mainland clash. Trailing 0-2 after losing the first two games 11-9, Sun rallied to win four consecutive games (11-9, 11-6, 13-11, 11-5), earning her spot in the final.
Sun is set to compete against Chen Xingtong for the title. Chen advanced after Wang Manyu retired due to injury in the fourth game of their semifinal match.
The finals promise electrifying action as athletes from the Chinese mainland continue to dominate the tournament.
