Wang Chuqin named China men's table tennis captain, Liang Jingkun deputy
Synopsis
China has handed the captain's armband to its biggest current star. Wang Chuqin — Olympic gold medallist, three-time WTT Finals champion and current world No. 1 — succeeds Ma Long as men's table tennis captain, with Liang Jingkun as deputy. The move signals a generational handover as Beijing builds toward LA 2028.
Key Takeaways
Wang Chuqin has been appointed captain of China's men's table tennis team , with Liang Jingkun as vice captain.
The duo helped China clinch a 12th consecutive men's title at the ITTF World Team Championships Finals in London .
Wang went 10-0 in matches at the tournament; Liang produced comeback wins over Alexis Lebrun and Tomokazu Harimoto .
Wang is the world No.
1, reigning Olympic champion in mixed doubles and team events, and a three-time WTT Finals singles winner ( 2022, 2023, 2024 ).
He swept four golds at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games and won the 2025 ITTF Worlds singles title in Doha.
World No. 1 Wang Chuqin has been appointed captain of China's men's table tennis team, with Liang Jingkun named vice captain, the national federation confirmed on 2 June. The elevation hands the 26-year-old reigning Olympic champion the baton from long-time leader Ma Long, as China looks to extend its global dominance in the sport.
The official word
“We hope that Wang Chuqin can carry forward the responsibilities and mission of the team captain and take over the baton from former captain Ma Long,” said Wang Hao, head coach of the Chinese men's team. “This is not only an honour, but also a heavy responsibility and a true testament to commitment,” he added.
London triumph sets the stage
The appointment follows China's 12th straight men's title at the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals in London last month. Wang produced a flawless campaign, winning all 10 of his matches, while Liang delivered back-to-back comeback wins in the semifinal against France's Alexis Lebrun and in the final against Japan's Tomokazu Harimoto.
A loaded résumé
Wang tops the men's singles world rankings released on Monday; Liang sits 26th. Wang is the reigning Olympic gold medallist in mixed doubles with Sun Yingsha, and in the team event alongside Ma Long and Fan Zhendong. He won the WTT Finals men's singles title in 2022, 2023 and 2024, and claimed both men's singles and mixed doubles gold at the 2025 ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals in Doha.
At the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, Wang swept four golds across singles, team, doubles and mixed doubles. This year, he lifted the WTT United States Smash men's singles title with a 4-0 win over Harimoto, followed by his third WTT Champions Macao crown in September — a run that propelled him back to the world No. 1 spot.
What's next
The new leadership group is expected to anchor China's preparations for the next ITTF cycle and the long road to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where the team will aim to defend its sweep of titles.
Point of View
And handing him the armband formalises a generational shift away from the Ma Long–Fan Zhendong era. The real test isn't talent — Wang has that in abundance — but whether he can shoulder the captaincy's political weight inside a famously regimented setup, while Europe and Japan close the gap faster than Beijing publicly admits.
NationPress
18 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the new captain of China's men's table tennis team?
World No. 1 Wang Chuqin has been appointed captain of China's men's table tennis team. Liang Jingkun has been named vice captain, with both taking over from former captain Ma Long.
Why was Wang Chuqin chosen as captain?
Wang Chuqin is the current world No. 1, reigning Olympic gold medallist in mixed doubles and team events, and led China's perfect run at the ITTF World Team Championships Finals in London with a 10-0 match record. Head coach Wang Hao said he was being asked to carry forward the team's responsibilities from Ma Long.
What has Wang Chuqin won in his career?
Wang has won WTT Finals men's singles titles in 2022, 2023 and 2024, the 2025 ITTF World Championships singles and mixed doubles gold in Doha, and four golds at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. He is also the reigning Olympic champion in mixed doubles and the team event.
How did China perform at the 2025 World Team Championships in London?
China won its 12th consecutive men's title at the ITTF World Team Championships Finals in London. Wang Chuqin won all 10 of his matches, while Liang Jingkun delivered comeback wins in the semifinal and final.
Who is Liang Jingkun, the new vice captain?
Liang Jingkun is a senior member of China's men's team and is currently ranked 26th in the world. He was instrumental in China's London triumph, beating France's Alexis Lebrun in the semifinal and Japan's Tomokazu Harimoto in the final.
