ITTF Men’s/Women’s World Cup: Brazil’s Calderano makes history as Yingsha retains crown

Hugo Calderano created history at the Galaxy Arena tonight, becoming the first Brazilian and Pan American player to win the ITTF Men’s and Women’s World Cup 2025 with a sensational 4-1 comeback victory over world number one Lin Shidong of China.

After dropping the opening game 6-11, the 28-year-old Brazilian produced an extraordinary performance to win four consecutive games (11-7, 11-9, 11-4, 11-5), completing a fairytale tournament that also saw him defeat world number two Wang Chuqin in the semifinals and world number three Tomokazu Harimoto in the quarterfinals.

Calderano’s triumph is nothing short of historic, marking a watershed moment for table tennis by breaking the Chinese dominance of the men’s competition and signalling a new era of global competitiveness in the sport. His tactical brilliance was on full display throughout the final, consistently taking the ball early and disrupting Lin’s rhythm with clever variation of pace and placement.

The Brazilian’s path to glory included a heroic semifinal comeback from 1-3 down against Wang Chuqin, followed by this masterclass against Lin, who had been in imperious form throughout the tournament.

Hugo Calderano’s achievement is truly remarkable as he becomes the first non-Chinese player since Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov (2017 Men’s Singles World Cup winner) to win a major men’s singles tournament. Additionally, being the first Pan American player since Wenguan Johnny Huang (bronze in 1993) to secure a men’s singles medal at the World Cup highlights his incredible talent and dedication to the sport. He will also regain his career-best ranking of World No. 3 by Tuesday.

Following his final victory, Calderano unleashed his joy with a celebration that has become synonymous with his dream run. Overwhelmed by triumph, he gently laid down his racket and sprawled onto the arena floor, his smile radiating pure bliss. In a scene that perfectly encapsulated the magnitude of the achievement, his childhood friend and teammate, Vitor Ishiy, surged into the playing area and enveloped him in an embrace in one of the most heartwarming moments of the competition.

“I think I played a great match,” said a beaming Calderano in his post-match interview. “Lin is an amazing player and World No. 1, so I knew it was going to be a tough challenge. He started strong, but I was able to find some solutions. Winning the second game gave me a boost, and I think I was great tactically in the third and fourth games where I played some great table tennis.”

Calderano’s victory has profound implications for the sport. The prize ceremony presented an uncommon sight: although three Chinese players occupied the podium, it was a Brazilian athlete who secured the premier spot. When asked about this, Calderano commented,

“Everyone knows China is the best country in table tennis in the world, they win most of the big titles. But other countries are becoming stronger and everyone is believing more and more that they can do something big. China dominates most of the big events and world rankings. But it is obvious that other countries are getting stronger, and closing the gap, performing better and better and bridging the gap.”

Calderano’s impact has been undeniable—close to 400,000 Brazilian fans watched the final live on Brazil’s CazéTV, with the replay already garnering more than 1.1 million views as more of Pan America wakes up to the historic achievement.

In the women’s singles final, defending champion Sun Yingsha of China retained her title with a commanding 4-0 (11-9, 11-6, 11-9, 11-6) victory over compatriot Kuai Man. The world number one never looked troubled as she secured her second consecutive World Cup crown with a performance of clinical precision and tactical mastery.

The 24-year-old Sun has further cemented her status as the premier force in women’s table tennis, extending her remarkable run of form that has seen her capture multiple titles over the past year. Her poise under pressure and consistency throughout the tournament demonstrated why she remains the player to beat on the women’s circuit.

Sun Yingsha was equally composed in her assessment: “I’m very happy to defend my title. Kuai Man is an excellent player who has improved tremendously, and I needed to be at my best today. The score doesn’t reflect how challenging the match was, particularly in the first and third games where every point was hard-fought.”

For 21-year-old Kuai Man, reaching the final represents a significant breakthrough in her career, having defeated both Wang Manyu and Mima Ito with remarkable comeback victories earlier in the tournament. Her aggressive style and mental resilience have marked her as one of the sport’s brightest young talents.

A fan favourite, the ITTF World Cup finals were broadcast live in 30 cinemas across 10 cities in China. This event will be remembered as a tournament of historic significance, marking Brazil’s spot at the pinnacle of the sport while celebrating Sun Yingsha’s remarkable achievement in successfully defending her title.