Wang Chuqin reacts during the men's singles semifinal match between Wang Chuqin of China and Truls Moregard of Sweden at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
DOHA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Wang Chuqin took sweet revenge for his Olympic loss to Truls Moregard, beating the Swede 4-1 in the men's singles semifinals of the World Table Tennis Championships on Saturday.
The second-seeded Chinese, who had suffered a 4-2 defeat by the Swedish giant-killer in the 2024 Paris Olympics, overcame a slow start and took a crucial fourth set to triumph 5-11, 11-8, 11-2, 12-10, 12-10 over 45 minutes.
Trailing 8-10, Wang turned very aggresive and snatched four points in a row to win the fourth set 12-10. The fifth set saw the Chinese lead 7-3, 10-6 before the Swede made it 10-10.
Moregard then sent a topspin forehand into the net and hit a backhand strike wide to conclude his Doha journey.
"I didn't find my rhythm until the second set," said Wang. "Moregard did very well and pressured me throughout the game."
Moregard said: "I think he played quite passive in the first set. He was not there mentally, and I took advantage of it.
"He just raised this level to a very high one and I couldn't keep up with it. So in the end, he was just a better player." ■
Wang Chuqin reacts before the men's singles semifinal between Wang Chuqin of China and Truls Moregard of Sweden at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)
Truls Moregard reacts during the men's singles semifinal between Wang Chuqin of China and Truls Moregard of Sweden at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)
Wang Chuqin celebrates scoring during the men's singles semifinal between Wang Chuqin of China and Truls Moregard of Sweden at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
Wang Chuqin (R) serves during the men's singles semifinal between Wang Chuqin of China and Truls Moregard of Sweden at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)
Wang Chuqin (L) of China and Truls Moregard of Sweden compete during the men's singles semifinal at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 24, 2025. (Xinhua/He Changshan)
Truls Moregard hits a return during the men's singles semifinal between Wang Chuqin of China and Truls Moregard of Sweden at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)
Wang Chuqin hits a return during the men's singles semifinal between Wang Chuqin of China and Truls Moregard of Sweden at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)
Wang Chuqin (R) of China and Truls Moregard of Sweden greet each other after the men's singles semifinal at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
Wang Chuqin hits a return during the men's singles semifinal between Wang Chuqin of China and Truls Moregard of Sweden at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 24, 2025. (Xinhua/He Changshan)
Wang Chuqin hits a return during the men's singles semifinal between Wang Chuqin of China and Truls Moregard of Sweden at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
Truls Moregard hits a return during the men's singles semifinal between Wang Chuqin of China and Truls Moregard of Sweden at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)
Truls Moregard (L) serves during the men's singles semifinal between Wang Chuqin of China and Truls Moregard of Sweden at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
Wang Chuqin (R) of China and Truls Moregard of Sweden hug each other after the men's singles semifinal at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
Wang Chuqin hits a return during the men's singles semifinal between Wang Chuqin of China and Truls Moregard of Sweden at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
Truls Moregard hits a return during the men's singles semifinal between Wang Chuqin of China and Truls Moregard of Sweden at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)
Wang Chuqin reacts during the men's singles semifinal between Wang Chuqin of China and Truls Moregard of Sweden at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
Wang Chuqin hits a return during the men's singles semifinal between Wang Chuqin of China and Truls Moregard of Sweden at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)
Wang Chuqin (R) celebrates winning the men's singles semifinal between Wang Chuqin of China and Truls Moregard of Sweden at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
Truls Moregard serves during the men's singles semifinal between Wang Chuqin of China and Truls Moregard of Sweden at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)
Wang Chuqin hits a return during the men's singles semifinal between Wang Chuqin of China and Truls Moregard of Sweden at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)
