The event schedule is based on the latest announcements from ITTF and WTT, but Wang Chuqinâs participation in specific events has not been confirmed. It seems CTTA usually finalizes the player list at the last minute… like right at the deadline hour.
A recent medical presentation by a senior team doctor of the Chinese national team has gone viral. It featured Wang Chuqin as the patient. This case study shed light on some of the unseen challenges Wang faced during the Paris Olympics, which might help piece together the puzzle of his unexpected early exit from the menâs singles. The mysterious injury, caused by unusual and intensified training, had been troubling him for a long time. Long enough for an accurate diagnosis and treatment before the Games. Long enough for the CNTâplayers, coaches, or staffâto have noticed or mentioned it. Yet, no one did, until now, even after over three months of shock and heavy public criticism following his loss in the singles.
Fortunately, yet unfortunately, this story likely only scratches the surface. It hints at deeper, possibly under-the-radar struggles Wang may have endured that remain hidden from public view.
Mysterious Shoulder Pain Found Incidentally
About the Viral Footage
This case study was presented at the 2nd China Chiropractic and Spine Health Summit in Shanghai on November 2, 2024, by Dr. Zhang Lewei, the senior team doctor of the China national team and Director of the Institute of Sports Medicine, General Administration of Sport of China.
The presentation detailed a special case involving Wang Chuqin at the Paris Olympics in August 2024. (Since it was shared publicly in a medical meeting, itâs reasonable to assume its release is permitted.) With the demanding pace of the Olympics, neither Wang nor the coaching staff reported any significant injuries, aside from ongoing tightness in his triceps. After winning mixed doubles gold and exiting early in singles, Wang finally got a chance to be examined by Dr. Zhang Lewei before the menâs team event. He was diagnosed with a triceps spasm linked to cervical spine issues, a condition strikingly similar to the injury former world champion Zhang Jike suffered at the London Olympics 12 years ago. (Dr. Zhang handled Zhang Jikeâs case back then, and Wangâs coach, Xiao Zhan, was also coaching Zhang Jike at the time.)
When the teamâs regular acupuncture and physical therapy failed, Dr. Zhang performed targeted nerve adjustments in the cervical spine area, leading to âan 80% improvementâ in Wangâs condition shortly after. Just goes to show how the right treatment at the right time can make all the difference.
Instead of the later showdown between Wang and Lin Yun-Ju, which was more about pure grit than technique, amid off-court drama (pressure from teammate Liang Jingkunâs unexpected loss, rushed warm-up, etc.), this Wang Chuqin vs. Kao Cheng-Jui match offers a perfect window into elite-level table tennis, where players think on their feet and solve problems mid-game. And thatâs what makes this sport so engaging.
Game 1: When Your Go-To Move Isnât Working (11-9)
Wang Chuqinâs usually deadly forehand loops⊠Not happening this time with those unpredictable seamless ballsâcost him five points alone. Kao Cheng-Jui did his homework and snagged 2 points with well-placed long serves to Wangâs backhand and another 2 with counter-loop by reading Wangâs placements like he had a cheat sheet.
But hereâs how Wang scraped through: out of his 11 points, he got 1 from Kaoâs receive sailing off the table, grabbed another by reading Kaoâs long serve for a direct wide-angle counter (1), sneaked in a counter-looping (1), landed a nice long serve to Kaoâs backhand (1), racked up 4 points with varied placements in rallies, managed 2 forehand counter-attacking once he got used to the ball, and sealed the deal with a crafty forehand push that shifted placement (1). Not exactly his typical aggressive style, but sometimes you gotta play the jazz version of your rock songs, whatever gets the job done.
Earlier this month, I was too swamped to keep up with Chuqinâs singles matches at China Smash, only hearing later about his loss to Anders Lind in R32. Fast forward four days, and Wang Chuqin teamed up with Liang Jingkun in Menâs Doubles. Their pairingâranked #28 in the world (despite Wang holding the #1 individual ranking in menâs doubles for quite a while)âpulled off a stunner in the final against the tournamentâs top-seed pair, Lin Gaoyuan and Lin Shidong (#8 in the world).
This win was extra sweet since it marked their first title as a duo, even though theyâve been buddies for nearly a decade and have occasionally joined forces since 2019. The real highlight wasnât just the fightback after dropping the first two gamesâit was watching Wang and Liangâs communication during every break. Thanks to the livestream feed, we got to see Wang taking on a natural leadership role, calmly breaking down tactics and offering strategic insights. Their mutual trust and brilliant gameplay sealed the deal. Who knew we had Coach Wang in the house!
Just caught Wang Chuqinâs run at the 2024 Asian Table Tennis Championships at Astana⊠what a ride! Despite not bagging a singleâs medal, Wang delivered as the âPlayer Xâ of the Chinese menâs national team, playing like the lead in a high-stakes drama. And things started⊠a little shaky.
Right out of the gate, Wang Chuqin got ambushed by a 14-year-old Iranian wonder teenager. No kidding, Benyamin Faraji, who was probably still cramming for a middle school test between matches, took down the world #1 in five sets. The kicker? Rumors were swirling that CNT didnât even get a chance to practice with the official game ballâa new edition of the 729 seamless ballâbefore Wangâs match. Since Wang was the first Chinese player on the court, he was also the first to experience them in actual playânot exactly an ideal way to break them in. And the CNT coach Xiao Zhan was even literally seen asking officials for the exact game balls after Wangâs first game. Wait, what? đ So youâre telling me the CNTâs days of preparation meant nothing?
Why was this a problem? Well, this particular ball was lighter and had a different bounce, something many players openly commented on later. Being lighter, it was harder for strong forehand attackers like Wang Chuqin to generate power, while favoring players who relied on long-pips or the spin-heavy backhand. Apparently, the higher the level of the player, the greater the impact and the longer the adjustment period. And if I remember correctly, Faraji had, what, 9 or 10 lucky points? (plus even more non-scoring lucky balls.) That was also the impact of the new seamless balls, I think.
Iâm not here to throw shade on Faraji, who played like a rising star. But it was weird how the headlines only focused on and mocked Wangâs âshockingâ defeat, completely ignoring the equipment issues. It felt like a Hollywood movie that jumps straight to the big twist with zero context. Makes for a juicy headline? Sure. Worth-watching? Not really.
After that âhold my paddleâ moment, Wang Chuqin went on a tear:
Danced past Noshad Alamiyan (3-1) to make up for the point he lost to Faraji just an hour earlier
Turned Oh Junsung and An Jaehyun into training drills (both 3-1)
But the real MVP moment? That five-set thriller against Lin Yun-Ju in the menâs team final. Down two sets (the first was a horrific 1-11 đ±), Wang Chuqin clawed his way back in a nail-biting third set so sweet itâll give you cavities. He sealed the game 3-2 against Lin, securing China a 3-1 victory and defending their title. Jayden and I were practically screaming at the screen (YouTube livestream at lunchtime) while he was frying shrimp that ended up burning. No one could ignore Wangâs exhaustion and the strain on his chest muscles and left arm. By the end, he had played four games (16 sets!) in one day.
It’s now official: Las Vegas will host the WTT Grand Smash on American soil from July 3-13, 2025, promising ten days of intense competition, captivating fan experiences, and Vegas-level entertainment in the heart of the Silver State.
Since table tennis remains a niche sport in the US, it’s an interesting decision. However, it seems the ITTF and WTT have grand ambitions to elevate the sport’s profile globally, and this move certainly aligns with that vision. My only beef? They didn’t pick somewhere on the East Coast, like New York or Atlanta metropolitan areas. But Vegas makes perfect sense. Compared to quiet suburbs or states, Las Vegas can draw huge crowds with its abundant flights, hotels, casinos, desert tours, and even the Sphere!! Plus, with the July 4th holiday in the mix⊠they’re planning their independence from table tennis obscurity in America.
Yet, looking ahead to 2025, Wang Chuqin’s calendar is looking insane and more packed than a Vegas buffet. Between the four Grand Smashes (Singapore, Saudi, USA, China), four (?) Champions events, the Finals, ITTF World Championships in Doha, Asian Cup, and other Asian competitions… WTT’s mandatory policy has these players not just earning points but racking up frequent flyer miles. Someone get this little lion heart a vacation! đïž đ đą đïž
Check this out – YouTuber @TableTennisDaily just dropped a video Worldâs Most Intense Table Tennis Session! featuring Wang Chuqinâs training session at China Smash, and itâs wild. This guyâs workouts are more intense than my relationship with coffee! Iâm both blown away and unsurprisedâclassic Chuqin, turning the practice court into his second home. Talk about a ping-pong powerhouse!
The training details Iâm able to tell from this video:
Full-table forehand drills
Continuous forehand attacks from the pivot position (two placements)
Forehand loop/backhand flip attack + full-table swing with random placement
In an interview with TTDCast, WTT CEO Steve Dainton shared his thoughts on the side-angle camera shot in table tennis broadcasts. Hereâs my take: 2025âs coming in hot, itâs time to bring AR technology to table tennis streaming! Let the audience pick the game, favorite players (or ghost the ones who make you yawn), how many camera windows, and all the camera angles. User-controlled 3D perspectives would take the viewing experience to the next level! Lolll! And seriously, why should the umpires have all the FUN? Letâs democratize that Hawk-Eye system. Suddenly, every armchair referee gets their moment in the spotlight. âThat ball was touched, and Iâve got the tech to prove it!â Let the audience take down the authority! ITTF/WTT freedom, here we come! đ€Ș
How did I discover Wang Chuqin and fall into the table tennis rabbit hole?
After the chaos of New York Fashion Week, I finally got to unwind by crashing on the couch and binge-watching movies with Jayden. It all started when we randomly stumbled upon an Olympic table tennis playlist on YouTube. Among all the players, Wang Chuqin stood out like a shining star. And just like that, I was hookedâsuddenly drawn into the world of this rising phenom climbing the ranks of the Chinese national team, a powerhouse thatâs dominated the sport for decades.
While most Chinese players are textbook flawless (at least according to my late-night YouTube research lmao) with a perfect balance of strength and speed, Wang is different. His power shots and relentlessly aggressive style make him look like heâs starring in Fast & Furious: Ping Pong Drift. And did I mention heâs a lefty? Being a southpaw comes with more challenges than advantagesâitâs like playing table tennis in mirror mode when everyone else has grown used to conventional gameplay.
Not gonna lie, weâve spent WAY too many hours tumbling down the YouTube rabbit hole watching Wangâs old matches. Our watch history is now a wasteland of rallies and highlights reels… sorry, Netflix recommendations đ But seriously, every game feels like its own little drama, and Iâm weirdly invested now. I may still be pretending I understand all the technical jargon, but is this what hardcore ping-pong fans experience? If so, consider me converted.
Now, Iâm on the edge of my seat to see where this young maverick goes next as he keeps shaking up the game with every serve and counter-drive. Who knew that table tennis could be this addictive?
