Wang Chuqin's double steers China past Romania 3-1 at ITTF World Team C'ships
Synopsis
World No. 1 Wang Chuqin delivered a two-win performance to rescue China from an early deficit against Romania at the 2026 ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships in London. His composure in turning around a 5-1 second-game deficit and then sealing the tie against Eduard Ionescu underlined why he remains the benchmark in men's table tennis heading into the quarterfinals.
Key Takeaways
Wang Chuqin claimed two wins as China beat Romania 3-1 on 6 May 2026 at Wembley Arena, London .
Liang Jingkun lost the opening rubber 11-5, 11-7, 11-6 to Eduard Ionescu , putting China behind early.
Lin Shidong won the crucial third match 11-9, 11-6, 11-4 over Ovidiu Ionescu to give China the lead.
China's women's team beat Sweden 3-0 , with Sun Yingsha , Wang Manyu , and Wang Yidi all winning in straight games.
China's men will face South Korea or Austria ; the women's team faces South Korea in the quarterfinals.
Wang Chuqin claimed two crucial wins as China rallied from a match down to defeat Romania 3-1 on Wednesday, 6 May, advancing to the men's team quarterfinals of the 2026 ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals at Wembley Arena in London. The world No. 1's composure under pressure proved decisive after China's campaign began with an unexpected setback.
Early Setback for China
Liang Jingkun put China on the back foot in the opening rubber, falling 11-5, 11-7, 11-6 to Eduard Ionescu, Romania's highest-ranked player. Liang was candid about his performance. "I was a bit tight at the start, and he performed better. After he had some excellent shots, my mentality was impacted, and I failed to catch up with him afterwards," he said. "As I don't have much advantage technically and tactically, I need to go all out against every opponent," he added.
Wang Chuqin Restores Parity
World No. 1 Wang Chuqin levelled the tie by beating Iulian Chirita in straight games. He took the first game 11-5, then recovered from a 5-1 deficit in the second to level at 8-8 before edging it 12-10, and closed out the match 11-5. "I prepared fully for this match. After trailing in the second game, I managed to turn the tables, which boosted my confidence in the third," Wang said.
Lin Shidong Puts China in Front
Lin Shidong gave China the lead with an 11-9, 11-6, 11-4 win over Ovidiu Ionescu in the third match. The 36-year-old Romanian called two TTR reviews in the second game, but both decisions went against him. "The third match was quite crucial, but I didn't think too much about it. I was just focused on every point," Lin said, adding that he hoped to raise his intensity further in the knockout rounds.
Wang Seals the Tie Against Eduard Ionescu
Wang returned to clinch the rubber against Eduard Ionescu, winning 11-8, 8-11, 11-3, 11-4. He led 8-2 in the opening game before Ionescu closed to within one point, but Wang held firm. Ionescu took the second game 11-8, but Wang responded decisively to wrap up the match. "Eduard is a strong player, and I expected it to be a tough match. Due to Lin's win in the third match, I felt more relieved on the court," Wang said. China will face either South Korea or Austria in the quarterfinals.
Chinese Women's Team Dominates Sweden 3-0
In the women's team round of 16, China swept Sweden 3-0 without dropping a game. Sun Yingsha opened with an 11-3, 11-4, 11-4 win over Swedish chopper Linda Bergstrom. "As the tournament now approaches the quarterfinals, the opponents will only get stronger and stronger. The contest will not only be about the skills and tactics, but also about the mentality and the ability to read the game," Sun said. Wang Manyu followed with a dominant 11-5, 11-0, 11-3 win over Christina Kallberg, conceding just eight points. Wang Yidi then completed the sweep, defeating Filippa Bergand 11-7, 11-4, 11-4. China will face South Korea, who beat Singapore 3-1, in the quarterfinals.
Other Results
Elsewhere in the men's draw, Chinese Taipei beat Denmark 3-0, Japan defeated Kazakhstan 3-1, and France sailed past Portugal 3-0. In the women's draw, Hong Kong, China edged Chinese Taipei 3-2, while Japan swept Luxembourg 3-0. With the quarterfinals now set, the competition is expected to intensify significantly as the top-ranked nations converge.
Point of View
While formidable, is not invincible against a motivated lower-ranked side. What saved China was not just Wang Chuqin's individual brilliance but Lin Shidong's timely intervention in the third rubber — a match that shifted the psychological momentum entirely. The women's 3-0 sweep of Sweden, with Wang Manyu conceding just eight points across three games, suggests the women's team is operating at a different level of dominance. The real test for both squads arrives in the quarterfinals, where South Korea will present a far sterner examination of China's mental and tactical resilience.
NationPress
8 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of China vs Romania at the 2026 ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships?
China defeated Romania 3-1 in the men's team round of 16 at the 2026 ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals at Wembley Arena, London on 6 May 2026. Wang Chuqin won two rubbers to lead the comeback after Liang Jingkun lost the opening match.
Who is Wang Chuqin and why does he matter at ITTF 2026?
Wang Chuqin is the world No. 1 men's table tennis player representing China. At the 2026 ITTF World Team Championships, he won two rubbers against Romania — against Iulian Chirita and Eduard Ionescu — to steer China into the quarterfinals.
Who will China face in the quarterfinals at the 2026 ITTF World Team Championships?
China's men's team will face either South Korea or Austria in the quarterfinals. The Chinese women's team will face South Korea, who beat Singapore 3-1 in their round of 16 tie.
How did China's women's team perform against Sweden at ITTF 2026?
China's women's team dominated Sweden 3-0 without dropping a single game. Sun Yingsha, Wang Manyu, and Wang Yidi all won in straight sets, with Wang Manyu conceding just eight points across her three games against Christina Kallberg.
What other results were recorded at the 2026 ITTF World Team Championships on 6 May?
In the men's draw, Chinese Taipei beat Denmark 3-0, Japan defeated Kazakhstan 3-1, and France beat Portugal 3-0. In the women's draw, Hong Kong, China edged Chinese Taipei 3-2, and Japan swept Luxembourg 3-0.
