ITTF World Cup: Wang Overcomes Tough Challenge from Duda
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Synopsis
Wang Chuqin narrowly defeated Benedikt Duda in a thrilling 4-3 match at the ITTF World Cup in Macao, advancing to the semifinals. Other notable matches included Lin Shidong's victory over Truls Moregard and Chen Xingtong's win against Bruna Takahashi.
Key Takeaways
- Wang Chuqin prevails in a close match against Duda
- Lin Shidong defeats Moregard 4-0
- Chen Xingtong advances with a 4-1 win
- Kuai Man stages a comeback against Wang Manyu
- The event is hosted at Galaxy Arena in Macao
Macao, April 19 (NationPress) The Olympic gold medalist and China's prominent table tennis star Wang Chuqin narrowly escaped a significant upset against Germany's Benedikt Duda on Friday, securing his place in the semifinals of the ITTF Men's and Women's World Cup Macao 2025.
In a thrilling encounter between two left-handed players, Wang triumphed over Duda with a score of 4-3. After exchanging victories in the initial six games, Duda gained match point in the final game; however, Wang maintained his composure and clinched three consecutive points to achieve a 12-10 victory.
"Starting from the third game, I was at a clear disadvantage. My opponent's consistency and shot quality during rallies exceeded what I expected. Even my high-quality shots were blocked and shut down by his placement," stated Wang post-match. "I had to fight for every point, just trying to hang in there."
In another match, China's Lin Shidong faced off against Sweden's renowned player Truls Moregard, where Lin dominated the Olympic singles silver medalist with a 4-0 victory (11-7, 11-9, 20-18, 11-6), setting up a semifinal clash against his teammate Liang Jingkun, who defeated Slovenia's Darko Jorgic 4-2 earlier, as reported by Xinhua.
In the women's singles, China's Chen Xingtong triumphed over Brazil's Bruna Takahashi with a score of 4-1, while defending champion Sun Yingsha of China also advanced past Cheng I-Ching of Chinese Taipei by the same margin. The two will meet in the semifinals on Saturday.
Young talent Kuai Man from China made a remarkable comeback from two games behind to win four consecutive games against her teammate Wang Manyu. The fourth game was especially exhilarating, ending with a nail-biting 18-16 score.
"It was my first time facing Manyu in a major international tournament, and I was thrilled to have the chance to play against her," said Kuai, adding that she approached the match with a more relaxed mindset.
The ITTF Men's and Women's World Cup Macao 2025 is taking place from April 14 to 20 at the prestigious Galaxy Arena in Macao. This event marks the second consecutive year of the esteemed singles World Cup following its successful return in 2024.
