Chinese table tennis legend forced to resign as federation president after shocking defeat

Liu Guoliang was a famous Chinese tennis player in the 1990s - Photo: XN

Last weekend, the world of table tennis witnessed a shock when Brazilian player Hugo Calderano unexpectedly defeated Lin Shidong in the final match of the 2025 Men's Individual Table Tennis World Cup, taking place in Macau.

This is considered one of the most prestigious tournaments in table tennis, taking place annually, but was interrupted during the 2021-2023 period, before returning in 2024.

Previously, Chinese table tennis players held the championship title for 4 consecutive tournaments, from 2018-2024. Since 2007, they have only stumbled once in the 2017 tournament (German player Ovtcharov won).

Therefore, Calderano's successive defeats of Wang Chuqin and Lin Shidong to win the championship were considered a huge shock to Chinese table tennis.

Just two days after this defeat, the president of the Chinese Table Tennis Federation, Liu Guoliang, announced his resignation.

Liu, 49, was the world's number one tennis player from 1996 to 1999. During this period, he won two Olympic gold medals and seven world championship gold medals. Liu also won the 1996 World Table Tennis Cup.

Retiring quite early, at the age of 25, Mr. Liu became the coach of the Chinese table tennis team just 2 years later. He was the head coach of the Chinese table tennis team at the 2008 Olympics, becoming one of the most successful coaches in the history of Chinese table tennis.

Mr. Wang Liqin will succeed his old teacher - Photo: XINHUA

Very quickly, CTTA also announced that the person who will succeed Mr. Liu is Vice President Wang Liqin.

Wang Liqin was Liu Guoliang's student for a long time, and his playing career was even more outstanding than his teacher's. Wang won dozens of different gold medals at the Olympics, world championships, World Cups, Asiad..., and held the number one position in the world of table tennis for many years.

It can be said that the Chinese table tennis leadership acted very quickly after this shocking defeat, determined to regain absolute dominance as quickly as possible.

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HUY DANG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/huyen-thoai-bong-ban-trung-quoc-phai-tu-chuc-chu-tich-lien-doan-sau-that-bai-gay-soc-20250423105725721.htm