Interview

— An Exclusive Interview with Wang Chuqin by Table Tennis World (Special Issue, Feb 2025)

On New Year’s Day 2025, Wang Chuqin secured victory in the China Table Tennis Super League (CTTSL) finals. The 2024 season finale was unique, stretching across the new year, making this win both the last of 2024 and the first of 2025. After a brief pause in celebration, Wang threw his head back and roared.

“That moment brought back so many memories,” Wang said. Those “memories” encompassed a whirlwind of experiences and emotions from 2024. After the outburst, Wang’s thoughts returned to the match.“ After his outburst, Wang’s thoughts shifted back to the game. “I was overwhelmed. I had been longing for this victory for so long. I don’t think my reaction was over the top. It was just a release of everything I’d been holding in. I’m really glad I could let it out, and I hope this release, this mindset, and my current competitive form carry into 2025.”

The year 2024 was anything but ordinary, marked most notably by the Paris Olympics. Wang went through “couldn’t be more detailed” closed training, relentless early-morning drills that were “always centered around mixed doubles,“ the matches that “kept getting harder,” fought through exhausting battles and won matches “purely on grit.” Over the year, he tasted glory, experienced helplessness, pulled himself out of slumps, and made adjustments. Reflecting on it all, he felt that “compared to my former self, I’ve grown significantly in every aspect“ as he entered 2025.

What changed? Wang answered firmly: “Acceptance. Accepting criticism and unfavorable comments. Even with my flaws and shortcomings, I will still step onto the court and fight as my best self.”

When asked to recall his best, worst, and most memorable moments of 2024, Wang Chuqin, known for his vivid storytelling, replied: “The worst was when Coach Xiao showed me my paddle had completely broken after someone stepped on it. I felt helpless and completely devastated. The best moment was the WTT Finals in Fukuoka. Ever since the Olympics, Coach Wang Hao had been reassuring me, believing in me, but I kept losing matches. Finally, in the Fukuoka finals, I stood my ground. It felt like I could finally repay all the trust he had in me.”

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In a recent interview with the Chinese Olympic Channel, Wang Chuqin opens up about his post-Paris Olympic struggles (again!), his goals for LA 2028, the emotions table tennis brings, and a heartfelt letter from his mother that still inspires him today. Watch the full interview with English subtitles and the transcript here.

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Before I wrap up Wang Chuqin and Weiqiao Club’s CTTSL victory, I had to share Wang’s post-match thoughts on his performance, his journey back to enjoying the sport after wanting to step away, and more. Check out all the interviews on my YouTube channel and the transcript here!

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Surprised but not that surprised, our lionhearted Wang Chuqin made a roaring comeback at the WTT Finals Fukuoka after nearly four months of a mysterious—yet not so mysterious—slump. Before discussing his performance, let me share some gems from his tournament interviews. Unlike the typical CNT player interviews that sound more like rehearsed scripts, Wang’s words were raw and straight to the point. No robotic answers, no diplomatic fluff. He opened up about his struggles since the Olympics, what it’s like to hold the world No. 1 ranking, how he views opponents, how he copes with pressure, and even how he’s rediscovering his inner voice. He also expressed gratitude for the unwavering support of his teammates and coaches.

“Being world No.1 isn’t as significant as it seemed.”

“I think fans and I see things differently. Everyone has their own thoughts and perspectives, but I can’t let others’ expectations define me.”

”Losing a match (in the Olympics) doesn’t make it about revenge or anything like that… Yes, I lost to him, but Moregardh didn’t win his Olympic silver medal just by beating me, he defeated many outstanding players along the way. So I don’t focus too much on that one match or on him. After all, there are many excellent players out there, not just him… For me, today was just another regular match. If I had treated it as something special, I probably wouldn’t have been able to win today.

It’s not every day you get to hear such an unvarnished, genuine perspective from a player of his caliber, and it was just as remarkable as his performance on the court.

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