ITTF Men's and Women's World Cup Macao 2026, 3/30-4/5

[NextLevel]

If Sora wasn't so moody he could win. for me both players about same level. WCQ stronger mentally

It is hardly about moodiness. The kid is 18. Ii dont know where people get this idea from that 18 year olds are supposed to display the maturity of people 10 years older when battling stress. Thats why people think that someone getting repeated opportunities in the face of occasionally underwhelming results but obvious talent makes them benefactors of favoritism. It just never could be that people could see their talent and were willing to work through it regardless of whatever was blocking it and would block it because the upside was ridiculously high.

Weirdly enough, these same people will make fun of Japan for running a form of individualistic meritocracy when it suits them.

 

[NetProphet]

This event has actually made me a fan of Wang. Well played by both players. Amazing match, instant classic.

Yup.
You gotta give credit where it's due, and credit for the right things. He was immense in standing up to Felix and also again today, when it mattered he really showed that he has learned from his failures in the past. More than anything I think his belief in himself was unshakable, there was no self doubt, in a who blinks first he won every time this week.
To see this guy with his previous mental frailties seemingly conquered is something approaching scary!

 

[NetProphet]

If Sora wasn't so moody he could win. for me both players about same level. WCQ stronger mentally

If Sora wasn't so moody what would he be though?
He is the embodiment of the flawed genius. Removing that edge could change him for the worse.
I think it just needs time forn his Table Tennis IQ to develop and he'll be better able to handle these situations.
I believe he'd have beaten anybody else today but WCQ got it done through the lessons he has taken that Sora is just now learning.
He's an amazing talent for sure but as they said about Dennis Rodman back in the day, you can't put a Saddle on a Mustang!

 

[kindof99]

Isn't Sora a little too chubby to play bo7? I think his shot quality got lower at the end. And I think if he learns to return slower spinning balls better, it is tougher for anyone to beat him atm, especially in a bo5 match.

 

[kindof99]

WCQ did improve a lot in mentality and variation, but overall there won't be easy win over Sora for him from now on.

 

[kindof99]

By the way, Wang Hao looked horrible as a coach on the court. His body and facial expressions can make a scary movie cover.

 

[kindof99]

By the way, Wang Hao looked horrible as a coach on the court. His body and facial expressions can make a scary movie cover.

 

[zeio]

WCQ too strong. China should be thankful WCQ is still strong as hell or they'd be screwed on the men's side.

Far from being screwed. It'd just be like back in the late 90s to early 2000s when they were transitioning from KLH/LGL to WLQ/MLin/WH, during which they dropped Manchester 1997, Paris 2003, Athens 2004 and several World Cup, still way better than the late 80s to early 90s from Jiang Jialiang/Chen Longcan to Ma Wenge/Wang Tao.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_Tennis_World_Cup#Men's_singles

 

[zeio]

If Sora wasn't so moody he could win. for me both players about same level. WCQ stronger mentally

It's still the same problem for Matsushima. Mental fortitude. He actually made the same mistake in SF and F, giving up G6 both times, the only difference being that LYJ failed to capitalize on that "breathing room" unlike WCQ.

Same for Goda, where she gave up G6 as well against SYS, giving the latter another chance, despite the situation being even worse for SYS in G7.

As LGL pointed out after LGY lost to ML at Marvellous 2017, he became soft/wavered on the crucial points and that softness gave ML the "opening" to finish the comeback.

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/fo...sh-sweden-august-14-24-2025.35820/post-537593

Also, it's said ZJK said the following before: Coming from 1-3 to 2-3, my odds are already 50-50, the 6th game is your final game, if I make it to 3-3, then my odds of winning are already 80%. That's what happened to Gauzy.

...

请问张继科以前说过落后其实是赛点的原话是怎么说来着？

https://tieba.baidu.com/p/9971138376

 

[zeio]

Hashimoto in tears. How many chances does she have left?

Harimoto certainly didn't expect to lose that bad to WYD.

【インタビュー】橋本帆乃香 王曼昱と1時間25分の死闘に敗れ悔し涙｜ITTF女子ワールドカップマカオ2026
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=054ugDxvUW8

【インタビュー】張本美和 悔し涙「出せるものは出せた。悔いは残らなかったら涙は出ないはずなんですが」｜ITTF女子ワールドカップマカオ2026
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4iUiYUJ9sQ

 

[mamedium]

Isn't Sora a little too chubby to play bo7?

Eugene Wang might disagree with you

 

[Matteones]

Incredible match. Won by Wang Chuqin on an incredible Matsushima who is already here. This seemed like a Ma Long vs Fan Zhendong of some years ago, I really hope both can keep up this level of table tennis and repeat this spectacle many more times. Special mention for Felix Lebrun and LYJ who are very very close. I don't think tabletennis has been this exciting with so many players from so many nations who can challenge each other since the end of the 90s - beginning of the 00.

 

[Shine]

Locker room tactics for Matsushima, seriously? LOL

Surprised mr k-99 is mute about that. Actually not suprising tbh.
Turns out the Japanese are free to take locker room breaks too, who would've guessed that 😳😧😮

 

[NextLevel]

Isn't Sora a little too chubby to play bo7? I think his shot quality got lower at the end. And I think if he learns to return slower spinning balls better, it is tougher for anyone to beat him atm, especially in a bo5 match.

You can't tell a top athlete"s muscle mass by looking at them. Without historical context in yheir optimal stature, you will be projecting without appreciating the tradeoffs.

 

[piligrim]

It is hardly about moodiness. The kid is 18. Ii dont know where people get this idea from that 18 year olds are supposed to display the maturity of people 10 years older when battling stress. Thats why people think that someone getting repeated opportunities in the face of occasionally underwhelming results but obvious talent makes them benefactors of favoritism. It just never could be that people could see their talent and were willing to work through it regardless of whatever was blocking it and would block it because the upside was ridiculously high.

Weirdly enough, these same people will make fun of Japan for running a form of individualistic meritocracy when it suits them.

18 maturity enough. Many players at same age and yonger much more mentally stable then Sora. Harimoto at 14 was more stable

 

[piligrim]

Eugene Wang might disagree with you

He can disagree even if he too chubby ))

 

[zeio]

Surprised mr k-99 is mute about that. Actually not suprising tbh.
Turns out the Japanese are free to take locker room breaks too, who would've guessed that 😳😧😮

Same for the other one (here and here). Harimoto used it against FZD at Paris 2024. Hirano used it against SYB at Paris 2024. And now Matsushima used it against WCQ. Gross but all 3 of them lost 3-4 in the end, so it doesn't count. China used it and China won. Gross. Japan used it and Japan lost. Class.

Aside from that, Hayata used the MTO against her own teammate Harimoto in a "mere" WTT Champions Yokohama 2025 after not opting for it against CY (regretfully) at US Smash 2025, just to keep herself in the WS race for Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya, Japan. Even grosser and yet not even a "fart". Harimoto used the MTO against WCQ two days later and won. Class.

 

[NextLevel]

18 maturity enough. Many players at same age and yonger much more mentally stable then Sora. Harimoto at 14 was more stable

Because Harimoto was screaming after every point, that makes him more stable? Because he actually managed to win with his technical limitations? Moreover, just because one player takes a path, every other great player must walk the same path? How are measuring this mental stability? By body language? Wins and losses? Please share.

Roger Federer was a hot head as a junior. Even the extremely calm and accomplished Nadal was crying after Wimbledon final in 2007 thinking he might never make it to the final again (already having won 3 French titles). No matter how "mature" you think an 18 year old is, they don't have perspective. For many players, it is that perspective that allows them to withstand the variations from time to time. Even WCQ that is calm now has been suspended for hit head behavior at an age older than Sora.

But you are entitled to your opinion. Many people write Sora off just because of perceived attitude. Let's focus as much as we can on the table tennis because your character doesn't always completely change just because you are a good table tennis. He is doing his best to win matches and that is all we can ask for.

 

[NextLevel]

Surprised mr k-99 is mute about that. Actually not suprising tbh.
Turns out the Japanese are free to take locker room breaks too, who would've guessed that 😳😧😮

Just like the early timeout, it will be a matter of time before the world catches up to adopting this tactic.

 

[piligrim]

Because Harimoto was screaming after every point, that makes him more stable? Because he actually managed to win with his technical limitations? Moreover, just because one player takes a path, every other great player must walk the same path? How are measuring this mental stability? By body language? Wins and losses? Please share.

Roger Federer was a hot head as a junior. Even the extremely calm and accomplished Nadal was crying after Wimbledon final in 2007 thinking he might never make it to the final again (already having won 3 French titles). No matter how "mature" you think an 18 year old is, they don't have perspective. For many players, it is that perspective that allows them to withstand the variations from time to time. Even WCQ that is calm now has been suspended for hit head behavior at an age older than Sora.

But you are entitled to your opinion. Many people write Sora off just because of perceived attitude. Let's focus as much as we can on the table tennis because your character doesn't always completely change just because you are a good table tennis. He is doing his best to win matches and that is all we can ask for.

Of course Sora shouldn't be same as others. I only not agree with part where you said in 18 is not enough to be mature. At 18 people go to army and use weapon. If 18 mature enough to use m16 and drive tank should be mature enough to play table tennis