This year brought some major changes in table tennis. Chinese table tennis legends Ma Long and Fan Zhendong retired from the international arena, leaving an open question – who gonna lead Team China in 2025?
The obvious answer would be – Wang Chuqin or Lin Shidong. One is already a very experienced player and World Ranking leader, while the other is a rising star with great potential. However, the true leader of Team China before the 2025 World Table Tennis Championships, could be the one, who always has remained in the shadows – Liang Jingkun. Let me explain to you, why.
Liang Jingkun is a synonym for consistency. He has never been the fan favorite or poster boy for Team China, like, for example, Wang Chuqin. He has always been that third or fourth option on the Chinese roster. However, on the biggest stage, like the World Championships, Liang Jingkun has been one of the most consistent players in table tennis history: three consecutive World Championships, and three bronze medals in the singles event. Only 18 players in history have been able to achieve such a feat. Liang Jingkun is one of them.
Many all-time greats haven’t been able to have such a consistent run on the biggest stage. The German legend, Timo Boll won just two bronze medals in his long and successful career. Xu Xin also reached the semi-final stage twice. Another former World Ranking leader, Dimitrij Ovtcharov, has never won a medal in the singles event of the World Championships. So in this regard, Liang Jingkun has surpassed some truly respectable names, and he has a chance to make the fourth consecutive run.
He was a late bloomer, always behind the more talented and accomplished teammates, like Ma Long, Xu Xin, and Fan Zhendong. Slowly, but surely, Liang Jingkun took every chance he got at the World Championships and made the best out of it. In every one of his runs, Liang Jingkun lost to the eventual champion.
Let’s look back at these journeys. In 2019, he eliminated Fan Zhendong in the Round of 16, got past Koki Niwa in the quarterfinals, and was stopped by Ma Long in the semifinals. In 2021, he won against Hugo Calderano in the quarterfinals and a loss to Fan Zhendong stopped Liang Jingkun from reaching the final. Draw wasn’t really in his favor, since the other semifinal featured Truls Moregardh and Timo Boll. And finally, in 2023, he got wins over Darko Jorgic and Tomokazu Harimoto on the way to the semifinal, where it was once again Fan Zhendong standing in the way.
As you can see, the consistency has always been there. And from the current Team China roster, you cannot say the same about others. Wang Chuqin has only one World Championships medal on his resume, and we all remember his exit at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Lin Shidong has progressed a lot, but the 2025 World Championships will be his first experience in the singles event.
Of course, these two gonna be the frontrunners and potential favorites of the World Championships in the eyes of the majority. However, you cannot have confidence in their success, like it was before when Ma Long and Fan Zhendong were playing. Liang Jingkun might not have the potential to win it all, but at the same time, he’s the most experienced and reliable Chinese player right now. He is still at the peak of his powers, and his experience can play a major role in a decisive moment.
Hopefully, the Chinese international will have a successful year, and in the current circumstances, he will earn more respect and attention from the fans. 2025 Singapore Smash was a good example of fan favoritism. It was quite disappointing to see how fans were cheering for Wang Chuqin, whenever he won the point, and how they went completely silent when Liang Jingkun had a successful rally. He’s an all-time great player, fans should put some respect on his name. He deserves better.
Don’t miss out the news from Table Tennis Media, subscribing to our free newsletter and explore the premium content on our Patreon.
Table Tennis Media 