Chinese fans fear for future of men’s table tennis after historic doubles defeat
South China Morning Post - SportsFriday, May 23, 2025 at 7:31:58 AM
Chinese table tennis fans are feeling uneasy after a surprising loss in the men’s doubles at the World Championships. Lin Shidong and Lin Gaoyuan, two of China’s top players, were defeated 3-1 by a duo from Chinese Taipei—a rare stumble for a team that usually dominates the sport. This has sparked worries about whether China’s long-standing supremacy in men’s table tennis might be slipping.
Editor’s Note: Table tennis isn’t just a game in China—it’s a point of national pride, and the men’s team has been virtually unstoppable for decades. A loss like this, especially to regional rivals, isn’t just a bad day on the court; it’s a wake-up call. If other teams are catching up, it could signal a shift in the sport’s balance of power—and that’s a big deal for fans and players alike.
— Curated via WP Now’s
