So Werner Schlager winning the World Championships in 2003 doesn’t count?
It seems 2003 whas a weird year all together. Chinese where not that dominant as they usually are, they played games until 11 instead of 21, Timo Boll topped the world ranking...but I guess for Austrians it is the best thing that ever happened table tennis!
I think every top player today knows that it is possible to beat Lin and Wang if you have a good day and they have a bad day. But if they really have the confidence to do so is questionable. Look at Anton and Duda - it was as it was already decided that they would loose in the end in their respective matches.
But here comes Hugo, and beats the top three players in the world, on their own terms (In asia), better when it really counts, mentally and physically stronger!
I know this is not the Olympics or the World Championships, however I think this one will boost the confidence of top players for a decade!