As anticipation grows for the upcoming ITTF 2024 Men's and Women's World Cups, let's take a moment to take a look back at the rich history of this prestigious event. Over the past 40 years, the tournament has shown extraordinary skill, determination and sportsmanship, and the names of the champions have gone down in table tennis history. Let's delve into the archives and celebrate some of the past victors who have left their mark on the sport.
Ma Lin: Ma Lin dominated the men's World Cup and currently holds the record for the most men's World Cup titles with Fan Zhendong. In 2000, he won his first title by defeating Kim Taek-so in the final in Yangzhou. Lin went on to win three more men's World Cups: Jiangyin 2003, Hangzhou 2004 and Paris 2006. In both the 2003 and 2004 World Cup finals, Jeremy Lin defeated Kalinnikos Glinka to win the title.
Vladimir Samsonov: A staunch supporter of the sport, Vladimir Samsonov is often nicknamed the "Tai Chi Master" because of his well-rounded offense and defense. Samsonov currently holds three men's World Cup titles (Xiaolan in 1999, Cumayor in 2001 and Moscow in 2009), the most of any non-Chinese player, and tied with Wang Hao for the most men's World Cup titles. One of the most prolific players in men's World Cup history, Samsonov won his first men's World Cup medal in Nîmes in 1996, where he won bronze. Seventeen years later, he won his last men's World Cup medal in Vilville in 2013.
Wang Hao: Like Samsonov, Wang Hao has three men's World Cup titles. He reached the final in 2005 and 2006 but failed at the final hurdle before winning his first men's World Cup title in Barcelona in 2007 and twice in Liège in 2008 and Magdeburg in 2010. Notably, in 2008, he avenged his 2005 defeat to Timo Bol to win the gold medal.
Liu Shiwen: Liu Shiwen is known for her elegance and precision, and her dominance at the Women's World Cup is awe-inspiring. Liu currently holds the record for the most singles World Cup titles with an impressive five titles. In 2009, she defeated her 18-year-old compatriot Guo Yue at home in Guangzhou to win the title for the first time. She was unstoppable, winning the prestigious Women's Cup in Huangshi in 2012, Kobe in 2013, Sendai in 2015 and Chengdu in 2019.
Miu Hirano: The only non-Chinese player to win the Women's World Cup, Miu Hirano made history by beating Zheng Yijing in her 2016 Women's World Cup debut in Philadelphia, holding the record for the youngest champion. Hirano will compete in Macau, and if she can replicate her dream in Philadelphia, people will be watching her.
Zhang Yining: Zhang Yining is considered one of the most successful female athletes in table tennis history, having won three women's World Cup gold medals during that era. At the 5th Women's World Cup in Wuhu in 2001, she defeated Kim Yi Weng Hye to win her first gold medal. She went on to win three titles at the 2002 World Cup in Singapore, the 2004 World Cup in Hangzhou and the 2005 World Cup in Guangzhou, making her the first player to win four Women's World Cups at the time, before her record was surpassed by Liu in 2019.
With more than 40 years of history and victors, the men's and women's World Cups will return to Macau in less than a week. Stay tuned for a new chapter in the ITTF World Cup's illustrious history, where new heroes and legends will be born.