In the early hours of May 11, the men's team final of the 2026 ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships in London concluded with China defeating Japan 3-0 to secure a 12th consecutive world team title.
China's top singles player Wang Chuqin played a crucial role in the triumph, finishing the tournament with a perfect 10-win record and being named the event's Most Valuable Player (MVP). May 11 also marked Wang's 26th birthday, and following the championship press conference, the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) presented him with a birthday cake to celebrate the occasion.
Speaking after the final, Wang said the Chinese team had undergone 40 to 50 consecutive days of preparation and closed-door training ahead of the tournament.
"Everyone made the fullest possible preparations to deal with difficulties before coming to London," he said.
Reflecting on the group stage, Wang acknowledged that teammates Lin Shidong and Liang Jingkun were both making their first appearances in a team event at the World Championships, which inevitably affected their performances to some extent.
However, he stressed that both he and the entire team had full confidence in their abilities.
"No matter the situation, I always believe in my teammates and my team. I firmly believed we would eventually win this team title," Wang said.
On receiving the men's MVP award, Wang said it was his first time competing as China's leading singles player at a World Team Championships, adding that his performances throughout the tournament had been relatively stable.
"I did my best to bring a sense of security to the team, just as I said before the tournament," he said.
Wang also revealed that he faced enormous pressure in every match and was never certain what level he would produce on the court. Nevertheless, he said he felt mentally stronger and more determined than ever once competition began.
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