Did Lin Gaoyuan and Lin Shidong Get Eliminated from Men's Doubles at the World Championships?
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Synopsis
In a surprising turn of events at the World Table Tennis Championships, China's hopes for a gold-medal repeat were dashed as Lin Gaoyuan and Lin Shidong were eliminated from men's doubles. Discover how this marks a historic first for China since 1975 and what this means for the future of the sport.
Key Takeaways
- Lin Gaoyuan and Lin Shidong eliminated from men's doubles.
- This marks a historic first for China since 1975.
- Chinese Taipei's Kao Cheng-Jui and Lin Yun-Ju emerged victorious.
- Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha remain the only hope for China.
- New competition is rising in table tennis globally.
Doha (Qatar), May 22 (NationPress) The ambitions of China's table tennis team for a gold-medal repeat from the Paris Olympics have hit a setback, as third-seeded Lin Gaoyuan and Lin Shidong faced elimination from the men's doubles at the World Table Tennis Championships on Thursday. The sixth-seeded duo from Chinese Taipei, Kao Cheng-Jui and Lin Yun-Ju, triumphed over Lin Gaoyuan/Lin Shidong with scores of 11-5, 11-9, 5-11, 11-8. Throughout the match, Lin and Lin struggled to establish their rhythm and exhibited limited creativity.
In earlier rounds, Kao and Lin had also eliminated China's Liang Jingkun and Huang Youzheng with a 3-1 victory in the second round. This elimination marks the first instance since 1975 that China has not reached the semifinals in the men's doubles event at the World Championships.
In other news, Olympic champions Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha managed to overcome a sluggish start to secure a 3-1 victory against Japan in the mixed doubles quarterfinals on Thursday. The second-seeded Chinese pair demonstrated their ability to perform under pressure, defeating the fifth seeds Sora Matsushima and Miwa Harimoto with scores of 6-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9, according to reports from Xinhua.
“I thought we would lose this match easily,” said Matsushima. “We played better than expected. The Chinese players showcased remarkable depth and tenacity in each strike. The gap between us is indeed significant.”
Matsushima also noted that he and Harimoto sensed a chance during the match. “If we had won the third set, we might have turned the match in our favor, but we fell short. That reveals the difference between us and the Chinese players.”
On Wednesday, Lin Shidong bounced back from a surprising morning defeat to win both his men’s singles and doubles matches. Lin and Kuai Man, the top seeds in mixed doubles, faced an upset against Japan's 16th-seeded pair Maharu Yoshimura and Satsuki Odo with a score of 3-1 (8-11, 11-5, 13-11, 12-10), leaving Olympic champions Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha as the sole Chinese pair still in contention.
The third-seeded Chinese duo achieved a clean sweep against South Korea's Jang Woo-jin and Cho Dae-seong with a 3-0 victory (11-5, 11-9, 11-9). Earlier, world No. 1 Lin Shidong came back from a slow start to defeat Sweden’s Kristian Karlsson, ranked 74th, in a five-set match (8-11, 11-1, 11-6, 11-5, 11-9).
Point of View
It’s essential to recognize that this result reflects the unpredictable nature of sports. While the elimination of Lin Gaoyuan and Lin Shidong is disappointing for fans, it also highlights the emerging competition on the global stage. The national pride is strong, and we remain hopeful for future tournaments.
NationPress
22/07/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused Lin Gaoyuan and Lin Shidong's elimination?
Lin Gaoyuan and Lin Shidong struggled to find their rhythm and creativity during their match against Kao Cheng-Jui and Lin Yun-Ju, leading to their elimination.
How significant is this loss for China’s table tennis team?
This loss is historically significant as it marks the first time since 1975 that China has not reached the semifinals in the men's doubles event at the World Championships.
Who are the remaining Chinese pairs in the competition?
Currently, Olympic champions Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha are the only Chinese pair remaining in contention after the elimination of Lin Gaoyuan and Lin Shidong.
