According to Xinhua News Agency, in the aftermath of the women's singles final at the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025, champion Sun Yingsha unexpectedly met face-to-face with IOC President Thomas Bach.
Bach attended the women's singles final that evening and presented awards to the players as a guest. After the match, he said that Sun Yingsha is a great champion, but we should not forget Wang Manyu, who dilivered a fantastic game. Bach expressed that he was still immersed in the thrilling seven-game battle, calling it an almost flawless final, absolutely spectacular.
The final was a peak showdown in table tennis: defending champion Sun Yingsha faced off against 2021 champion Wang Manyu in a dramatic seven-game match, with scores fluctuating and intense moments throughout. Sun ultimately triumphed 4-3, successfully defending her title.
Regarding Sun's performance during critical moments, Bach highlighted a particularly impressive moment: Many people would feel hopeless when trailing 0-3 in the seventh game, especially after a close call. But she persevered and made a comeback. When you see her smiling in such a moment, you understand this is a competition between true top athletes.
"That's the quality great champions possess, isn't it?" Bach remarked.
At that moment, Sun Yingsha, just crowned champion, happened to walk past the interview area. Upon seeing Bach, she stopped and approached him, saying, "Every time I see President Bach, it brings me good luck."
Laughter filled the room as Bach responded with a smile, "This is you alone."
Sun then cheerfully said she hoped to exchange contact information. Bach happily agreed, stating, "We should stay in touch." They had previously attended several events together, including the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics, and their relaxed interaction added warmth to the atmosphere, making this encounter beyond the competition feel special.
Bach expressed his delight at witnessing the growing popularity of table tennis, acknowledging its significant contribution to the success of the Olympic movement.
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