Kuai Man/Lin Shidong (R) of China compete in the mixed doubles match against Sabine Winter/Benedikt Duda of Germany during the stage 2 group match between China and Germany at the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)
CHENGDU, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- China clinched an 8-4 victory over Germany to remain top of the rankings in the round-robin second stage at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Mixed Team World Cup on Friday.
In the opening mixed doubles, China's Kuai Man and Lin Shidong beat German pair Benedikt Duda and Sabine Winter 11-6, 13-11, 9-11. World No. 1 Sun Yingsha helped China extend its lead to 5-1 after beating Nina Mittelham 11-7, 11-3, 11-7 in the women's singles.
However, Germany's Patrick Franziska then upset Chinese star Wang Chuqin 12-10, 11-3, 7-11 in the men's singles. In the men's doubles that followed, Wang and Liang Jingkun came back to see off Duda and Qiu Dang 6-11, 11-2, 12-10.
"I didn't make an effective response at the start of the match. I tried to adjust myself gradually and maintained the momentum in the doubles. I also congratulated my friend Franziska for his great performance today," said Wang.
Also on Friday, Hong Kong, China edged France 8-7, after the two teams were tied 6-6 following 12 games. In the decisive fifth match, Zhu Chengzhu and Doo Hoi Kem beat French pair Yuan Jianan and Prithika Pavade 11-5, 9-11, 11-2 to clinch victory for Hong Kong, China.
The ITTF Mixed Team World Cup, running from November 30 to December 7, adopts a competition format that begins with mixed doubles, followed by women's singles and men's singles, and then men's and women's doubles if required, with their order of play determined by the captain of the lower-ranked team.
Each individual match consists of three games, resulting in either a 3-0 or 2-1 scoreline. Team matches continue until one side secures eight game victories.
On Saturday, China will face Japan and Sweden successively. ■
Wang Chuqin (R) of China competes in the men's singles match against Patrick Franziska of Germany during the stage 2 group match between China and Germany at the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)
Wang Chuqin of China competes in the men's singles match against Patrick Franziska of Germany during the stage 2 group match between China and Germany at the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)
Wang Chuqin of China competes in the men's singles match against Patrick Franziska of Germany during the stage 2 group match between China and Germany at the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)
Sabine Winter (R)/Benedikt Duda of Germany compete in the mixed doubles match against Kuai Man/Lin Shidong of China during the stage 2 group match between China and Germany at the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)
Sun Yingsha of China competes in the women's singles match against Nina Mittelham of Germany during the stage 2 group match between China and Germany at the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)
Nina Mittelham of Germany serves in the women's singles match against Sun Yingsha of China during the stage 2 group match between China and Germany at the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)
Kuai Man (R)/Lin Shidong of China compete in the mixed doubles match against Sabine Winter/Benedikt Duda of Germany during the stage 2 group match between China and Germany at the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)
Patrick Franziska of Germany competes in the men's singles match against Wang Chuqin of China during the stage 2 group match between China and Germany at the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)
Sabine Winter/Benedikt Duda (L) of Germany compete in the mixed doubles match against Kuai Man/Lin Shidong of China during the stage 2 group match between China and Germany at the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)
Sun Yingsha of China serves in the women's singles match against Nina Mittelham of Germany during the stage 2 group match between China and Germany at the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)
Patrick Franziska of Germany celebrates in the men's singles match against Wang Chuqin of China during the stage 2 group match between China and Germany at the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)
Wang Chuqin (1st R)/Liang Jingkun of China compete in the men's doubles match against Benedikt Duda/Qiu Dang of Germany during the stage 2 group match between China and Germany at the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)
Wang Chuqin (R)/Liang Jingkun of China compete in the men's doubles match against Benedikt Duda/Qiu Dang of Germany during the stage 2 group match between China and Germany at the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)
