Fan Zhendong(R)/Wang Chuqin pose with the trophy during the awarding ceremony after winning the men's doubles final match against Jang Woojin/Lim Jonghoon of South Korea at 2023 ITTF Table Tennis World Championships Finals in Durban, South Africa, May 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Yahui)
DURBAN, South Africa, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Fan Zhendong and Wang Chuqin helped China reclaim the men's doubles title after overcoming South Korea's Jang Woo-jin and Lim Jong-hoon in straight games at the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships (WTTC) Finals here on Saturday.
Facing last edition's runners-up, who had fallen to Sweden's Mattias Falck and Kristian Karlsson two years ago in Houston, the Chinese pair emerged victorious 13-11, 11-6, 11-5 in the title showdown.
Despite a 6-9 deficit, Fan and Wang held their nerve to snatch four points in a row and win an intense first game.
The Chinese paddlers didn't encounter much resistance from their opponents in the next two games on their way to victory.
Wang said the first game was key to their win. "We managed to come through adversity. It was a spectacular final, and I'm happy to win the title," he said.
Fan expressed his gratitude to the fans. "The atmosphere inside the venue was electric, and it pushed us to perform at our best," said the world singles No. 1.
Lee Sang-su and Cho Dae-seong of South Korea and the German duo of Dimitrij Ovtcharov and Patrick Franziska shared the bronze medal. ■
Fan Zhendong(R)/Wang Chuqin pose for photos during the awarding ceremony after winning the men's doubles final match against Jang Woojin/Lim Jonghoon of South Korea at 2023 ITTF Table Tennis World Championships Finals in Durban, South Africa, May 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Yahui)
First-placed Fan Zhendong (R)/Wang Chuqin of China react during the medal ceremony after winning the men's doubles final match against Jang Woojin/Lim Jonghoon of South Korea at 2023 ITTF Table Tennis World Championships Finals in Durban, South Africa, May 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Yahui)
First-placed China's Fan Zhendong(4th L)/Wang Chuqin (3rd L), second-placed South Korea's Jang Woojin(1st L)/Lim Jonghoon(2nd L), third-placed South Korea's Cho Daeseong(3rd R)/Lee Sang Su(4th R) and Germany's Dimitrij Ovtcharov(2nd R)/Patrick Franziska attend the men's doubles medal ceremony at 2023 ITTF Table Tennis World Championships Finals in Durban, South Africa, May 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Tao Xiyi)
First-placed China's Fan Zhendong(4th L)/Wang Chuqin (3rd L), second-placed South Korea's Jang Woojin(1st L)/Lim Jonghoon(2nd L), third-placed South Korea's Cho Daeseong(3rd R)/Lee Sang Su(4th R) and Germany's Dimitrij Ovtcharov(2nd R)/Patrick Franziska attend the men's doubles medal ceremony at 2023 ITTF Table Tennis World Championships Finals in Durban, South Africa, May 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Tao Xiyi)
Fan Zhendong (R) /Wang Chuqin of China compete during the men's doubles final match against Jang Woojin/Lim Jonghoon of South Korea at 2023 ITTF Table Tennis World Championships Finals in Durban, South Africa, May 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Yudong)
Fan Zhendong (R) /Wang Chuqin of China celebrate during the men's doubles final match against Jang Woojin/Lim Jonghoon of South Korea at 2023 ITTF Table Tennis World Championships Finals in Durban, South Africa, May 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Yudong)
Jang Woojin(top R)/Lim Jonghoon (top L) of South Korea compete during the men's doubles final match against Fan Zhendong/Wang Chuqin of China at 2023 ITTF Table Tennis World Championships Finals in Durban, South Africa, May 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Han Xu)
Jang Woojin/Lim Jonghoon (1st L) of South Korea compete during the men's doubles final match against Fan Zhendong/Wang Chuqin of China at 2023 ITTF Table Tennis World Championships Finals in Durban, South Africa, May 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Han Xu)
Fan Zhendong (L)/Wang Chuqin of China greet spectators after the men's doubles final match against Jang Woojin/Lim Jonghoon of South Korea at 2023 ITTF Table Tennis World Championships Finals in Durban, South Africa, May 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)
Fan Zhendong (R)/Wang Chuqin of China celebrate scoring during the men's doubles final match against Jang Woojin/Lim Jonghoon of South Korea at 2023 ITTF Table Tennis World Championships Finals in Durban, South Africa, May 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)
Fan Zhendong (R)/Wang Chuqin of China celebrate after the men's doubles final match against Jang Woojin/Lim Jonghoon of South Korea at 2023 ITTF Table Tennis World Championships Finals in Durban, South Africa, May 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)
Fan Zhendong (R)/Wang Chuqin of China celebrate after the men's doubles final match against Jang Woojin/Lim Jonghoon of South Korea at 2023 ITTF Table Tennis World Championships Finals in Durban, South Africa, May 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Yudong)
Fan Zhendong (L)/Wang Chuqin of China celebrate scoring during the men's doubles final match against Jang Woojin/Lim Jonghoon of South Korea at 2023 ITTF Table Tennis World Championships Finals in Durban, South Africa, May 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)
Fan Zhendong (L)/Wang Chuqin of China celebrate after the men's doubles final match against Jang Woojin/Lim Jonghoon of South Korea at 2023 ITTF Table Tennis World Championships Finals in Durban, South Africa, May 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)
Jang Woojin (R) /Lim Jonghoon of South Korea compete during the men's doubles final match against Fan Zhendong/Wang Chuqin of China at 2023 ITTF Table Tennis World Championships Finals in Durban, South Africa, May 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Yudong)
