Wang Chuqin changed his racket after his "weapon" was allegedly mishandled and went on to win a mixed doubles second round game with Sun Yingsha at the world table tennis championships on Monday.
Wang Chuqin/Sun Yingsha (R) of China compete against Hugo Calderano/Bruna Takahashi of Brazil during the mixed doubles round of 32 match at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
Minutes before the Chinese duo took on the Brazilian team of Hugo Calderano and Bruna Takahashi, Wang found part of rubber came off the blade and Chinese coach Xiao Zhan questioned the umpire if anyone had mishandled Wang's racket. The umpire answered that no one had intentionally torn the rubber and allowed Wang to use his backup racket.
Wang complained in a Migu TV interview that something bad always happened to him in major international events including the Paris Olympics. But he didn't elaborate.
Photographers, rushing to capture the moment after Wang and Sun won Olympic gold in Paris, accidentally broke Wang's racket, a crucial piece of equipment needed for his singles match the following night - leaving him in disbelief and needing to be calmed by his coach.
Monday's game went well as the Olympic gold medalists and two-time defending world champions for the event cruised over World Cup holder Calderano and his girlfriend 11-2, 11-7, 11-4.
The Chinese team asked for video replay and successfully challenged an edge call which went in the Brazilians' favor at the beginning of the second set.
"Our teamwork is getting better," said Sun, who had not paired up with Wang in a few months leading to the Doha championships.