Challenges ahead

As chairman, Wang now faces the challenge of turning those values into a cohesive vision. If his early actions are any indication, the future of Chinese table tennis may be less about spectacle and more about substance.

And that may be exactly what the sport needs.

"The Olympic preparation cycle for Los Angeles has already begun, and our next step will likely align all our training tasks with that goal," Wang Liqin said.

"In particular, the International Olympic Committee recently announced changes to the table tennis program in LA — expanding from five gold medals to six. We'll need to develop a corresponding strategy for all six events."

In early April, the IOC approved the introduction of a new mixed team event at LA28, and reinstated men's and women's doubles, replacing the current men's and women's team events.

The former was first tested at the 2023 Mixed Team World Cup in Chengdu, an event that emphasized gender equality and team collaboration — values that align closely with Wang's own vision for a more united Chinese team.

Last week, the Chinese national table tennis team wrapped up a 15-day closed training camp, and Wang will face his first test since taking office: the World Table Tennis Championships in Doha, Qatar, starting on May 17.

The team has already announced its lineup, sending its strongest possible roster in the absence of Olympic champions Ma Long, Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng.

Titles will be contested in mixed doubles, men's doubles, women's doubles, men's singles, and women's singles — all of which are part of the LA28 program.

The women's singles lineup is led by Sun Yingsha, the current world No 1 who is fresh off her victory at the ITTF Women's World Cup in Macao.

"With chairman Wang Liqin at the helm, I believe Team China will continue to dominate this new Olympic cycle — marching from one victory to the next," Sun said.

On the men's side, the singles roster is spearheaded by world No 1 Lin Shidong and No 2 Wang Chuqin.

At the recent ITTF Men's World Cup in Macao, Brazil's Hugo Calderano snapped China's winning streak in singles, defeating both of them en route to the title — ramping up the pressure on the Chinese men to deliver a winning performance in Doha.

Although Wang Liqin never completed the coveted "Grand Slam" — having missed out on a World Cup title during his playing days — his track record at the world championships is illustrious: three men's singles titles, one men's doubles title, and one men's team championship.

Perhaps at this upcoming world championships, he will draw from that wealth of experience to guide his players in writing the next glorious chapter in Chinese table tennis history.

liyingxue@chinadaily.com.cn