Off the Court

Coaching in table tennis goes far beyond perfecting strokes or yelling, “Move your feet!” from the sidelines. It’s the backbone of champions, especially in China’s tightly controlled system, where resources and strategy shape everything. And somehow, Wang Chuqin has made history by becoming the first player ever to hold the world No. 1 ranking in men’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles at the same time, yet he has never had the full coaching support his peers enjoy.

How does that even happen?

To unravel this mystery, we need to break down how the Chinese national table tennis team operates, why coaching is so crucial, and how Wang Chuqin slipped through the cracks.

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Ah, Wang’s serve has been stirring up debates for a while, especially since he started collecting titles like they were on sale a couple of years ago. Critics are zooming in, pausing frames, and waving screenshots around like it’s the ultimate “Gotcha!” moment. But here’s the truth: Relying on livestream footage to judge a 70mph, high-spinning ping-pong ball captured from a distance is like reviewing a chef’s cooking based on their Instagram filter. Cameras play tricks on us with lens distortion, parallax effects, and angles that create illusions even the sharpest eyes can’t escape.

In this post, I’ll explain why screenshots fail to tell the whole story, how Hawk-Eye tech could bring clarity to the chaos, and why pushing the envelope in sports isn’t cheating but strategy. Sports aren’t perfect. They’re chaotic, emotional, and brilliantly human. So let’s put down the screenshots, enjoy the game’s magic, and stop pretending we’re all forensic experts with ping-pong degrees.

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Wang’s game lately? It’s giving “main character in a burnout arc.” Between back-to-back tournaments, a paddle-breaking drama straight out of a telenovela, the injuries lurking like a nasty plot twist, and China expecting the Olympic gold medals like they’re on Amazon Prime, the man’s under more pressure than a bottle of champagne at a frat party. Let’s give Chuqin a sec to recharge his rizz, 😜 dodge the drama, and come back swinging—if anyone’s got the talent and resilience to flip the script, it’s him. Pure ✨s-tier✨ energy is incoming.

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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 men’s 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 CNT—players, coaches, or staff—to 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, it’s 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 got a chance to be examined by Dr. Zhang Lewei before the men’s 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. Having handled that case before, Dr. Zhang was familiar with the condition.

When the team’s regular acupuncture and physical therapy failed, Dr. Zhang performed targeted nerve adjustments in the cervical spine area, leading to “an 80% improvement” in Wang’s condition shortly after. Just goes to show how the right treatment at the right time can make all the difference.

And More?

This case isn’t just about Wang’s injury; it also highlights the critical importance of accurate diagnosis and timely treatment for elite athletes, especially on the world stage.

In the wake of this case presentation, a previously ignored piece of Wang Chuqin’s injury story from the documentary Blossom in Paris: China National Table Tennis Team–More Than Champions¹ (released by China Central Television in August 2024, likely filmed in June) gained significant public attention.

The documentary revealed that Wang had been experiencing persistent and mysterious body pain that may have started earlier this year. Instead of proper medical attention, his coach seemingly brushed off the injury as something “normal” and that he needed to “push through.” With everyone on the CNT, including Wang himself, maintaining near-silence about the matter, who knows what else might be hidden beneath the surface?

These newly surfaced details raise serious questions about potential negligence or lapses in the coaching and support staff of the Chinese national team. Did these medical oversights directly affect Wang’s Olympic performance, which fell short of his pre-Olympic form? Could more have been done earlier? For now, these questions remain unanswered.

Updated on Feb 26, 2025

More and more pieces of the puzzle have fallen into place recently.

As part of reflecting on 2024, Wang Chuqin spoke up for the first time about the backstory and his injury during the Paris Olympics in a special interview. (Check out the full translated Interview by Table Tennis World)

In early June, during closed training in Chengdu, Wang began suffering from unbearable shoulder pain that significantly affected his forehand. Cortisone shots and the strongest painkillers failed to ease it, not to mention regular treatments like acupuncture, strengthening exercises, etc. The seemingly incurable pain persisted for over two months and stayed with him throughout the Olympics. Alongside the mental stress, it reached a breaking point after he won mixed doubles gold in Paris. The strain on his arm was even worse than he or anyone else had imagined.

Now, when I rewatch footage of Wang’s Olympic matches (and even the post-Olympics Asian Championships), I finally notice his stiff movements and the odd expressions on his face—unusual for a player usually full of confidence. The truth was hidden in the small details: not just the long-ignored injury, but also how the CNT overlooked him. (I talk about this in another post if you’re interested. Fair warning, though, it’s a long read.)

We still don’t know exactly what caused Wang Chuqin’s injury, but years of brutal training are likely a major factor. Fortunately, at the Asian Cup in February 2025, where Wang stood holding the champion trophy, he responded to public concerns. He said that after discussions with his coaches, he’s now trying a more measured training approach, focusing on strategy and sustainability rather than sheer intensity.²

Good to know. Good to keep updating—just not on the injury front. Let’s stick to his progress instead!

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