A closer look at the 2023 Chinese World Championships Trials

Sixteen of the best Chinese players meet to battle for the opportunity to play in the 2023 World Championships in Durban.

Outside of Lin Shidong (he was replaced by Xu Haidong), who was diagnosed with COVID-19 after return from Amman, all the current leading Chinese players were ready to earn their ticket to Durban. However, as the event progressed, three more players withdrew due to fever – Xiang Peng, Chen Yuanyu and Zhou Kai.

One of the surprises of the group stage was the unsuccessful run of Lin Gaoyuan, who placed only third in his group after losing to Xue Fei and Liang Jingkun.

The main favorites proved their quality and won their respective groups. The winners of each group advanced to the semi-finals stage. Draw brought together Fan Zhendong and Wang Chuqin, as well as Ma Long and Liang Jingkun. Unfortunately, Wang Chuqin had to withdraw and join the list of players who were affected by the virus. It allowed Fan Zhendong to qualify for the final effortlessly and join Ma Long, who got a confident 3-1 win against Liang Jingkun.

In the final, Ma Long got a surprisingly confident 3-0 win against Fan Zhendong. It looks like the 34-year-old veteran remains the main favorite to win the singles title in Durban. This could be his fourth singles title – a unique feat in modern table tennis.

In mixed doubles event, Lin Gaoyuan and Chen Xingtong were the strongest pairing, overcoming Yu Ziyang and Sun Mingyang in the final.

FINAL

Ma Long
3-0 vs. Fan Zhendong (11-8, 11-5, 11-7)

SEMI-FINALS
Fan Zhendong
W-0 vs. Wang Chuqin

Ma Long
3-1 vs. Liang Jingkun (11-7, 11-5, 3-11, 13-11)

GROUP STAGE

GROUP A

Player1234PointsPlace
Fan Zhendong3-13-13-061
Zhou Qihao1-3W:03-152
Zhou Kai1-30:W0:W14
Liang Yanning1-30-3W:043

GROUP B

Player1234PointsPlace
Ma Long3-03-13-261
Xu Yingbin0-33-13-052
Xu Haidong1-31-33-043
Yuan Licen2-30-30-334

GROUP C

Player1234PointsPlace
Wang Chuqin3-0W:0W:061
Liu Dingshuo0-33-0W:052
Xiang Peng0:W0-30:W13
Chen Yuanyu0:W0:W0:W04

GROUP D

Player1234PointsPlace
Liang Jingkun3-13-23-261
Lin Gaoyuan1-30-33-043
Xue Fei2-33-02-342
Zhao Zihao2-30-33-244

2023 CHINA WTTC TRIALS HIGHLIGHTS

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