Recaps

Wang Chao won the Brazil Open, helped Xiao Fei choose young national-team prospects, and prepared for the World Table Tennis Championships with a new racket. At the championships, Luo Jiu and Wang Chao advanced through the early rounds as their rivalry intensified.

• Wang Chao defeated Xiao Fei 4:0, then beat Lin Li 4:0 to win the Brazil Open Men's Singles title.
• Xiao Fei decided to retire, and Wang Chao accompanied him as he evaluated young players and selected Wang Qin as his disciple.
• Wang Chao visited his mother Wang Mei’s wedding, then arranged for Wu Li to train with Hook and other players.
• At the Top 12 Invitational, Luo Jiu finished first and defeated Wang Chao 4:2, while Wang Chao tested a prototype of Luo Jiu’s new racket.
• Luo Jiu won the Portugal Open, and Wang Chao received his custom paddle, the Superconductor, before the Chinese delegation traveled to Budapest.
• At the World Table Tennis Championships, Wang Chao and Tang Yuanyuan advanced in mixed doubles while Wang Chao used early singles matches to adjust to his new racket.
• Wang Chao defeated Sissifield 4:3 after saving two match points with a Great Python Turn, then joined Tang Yuanyuan to sweep Kim Bong and Kim Jong.

Wang Chao overcame Bayer, advanced through the championships, and defeated Luo Jiu to win his first World Table Tennis Championships title. After Luo Jiu’s engagement and the players’ return to league play, the story moved to Olympic preparations, where Wang Chao accepted the uncertainty of the Games and resolved to play his best.

• Wang Chao rallied from three games down to beat Bayer 4:3, then defeated Hook and Arul to reach the World Table Tennis Championships final against Luo Jiu.
• Lin Zijun’s patient defense tested Luo Jiu, but Luo Jiu adapted, won 4:2, and advanced to the semifinals, where he defeated Pike.
• Wang Chao beat Hook 4:0, while Fan Xiaodong defeated Lin Li, setting up the men’s singles final between Wang Chao and Luo Jiu.
• Wang Chao and Luo Jiu fought through long rallies and tactical adjustments, with Luo Jiu taking the first two games before Wang Chao won the next two to level the match.
• Luo Jiu changed his racket rubbers and used the final as practice to help Wang Chao prepare for Sun Tianlong, and Wang Chao won 4:2 and claimed his first World Table Tennis Championships title.
• Luo Jiu proposed to Fan Xiaoxian, formally visited her family, and returned to training determined to win the Olympics, while Hook joined Black Spade Q’s training base to escape his intense sparring.
• Wang Chao developed Wu Li as a doubles partner, and Wu Li stunned the table-tennis world by beating Bai Feng in a deciding match, and Wang Chao later said Wu Li would join the national team next spring.
• The Chinese team selected Sun Tianlong, Luo Jiu, Wang Chao, and Fan Xiaodong for the men’s Olympic roster, and Wang Chao set aside his worries about the Grand Slam and resolved to play his best.

Wang Chao helped the Chinese pairs win Olympic doubles gold, then advanced through the men’s singles draw as Luo Jiu and Sun Tianlong faced off in the semifinals. After Sun Tianlong beat Luo Jiu, Wang Chao chose to meet him in the final despite his earlier plan to concede, and took a commanding lead as Sun abandoned his usual style.

• Wang Chao and Tang Yuanyuan defeated Lin Zijun and Zhen Jing 3:0 to win mixed doubles gold, then Luo Jiu and Sun Tianlong claimed men’s doubles gold.
• Luo Jiu defeated Morad and Sun Tianlong returned to peak form, while Wang Chao swept Zhu Shixian and reached the singles semifinals.
• Sun Tianlong defeated Luo Jiu 4:0 in their semifinal after suppressing Luo Jiu’s backhand, while Wang Chao defeated Lin Zijun 4:0 despite considering whether to throw the match.
• Wang Chao decided to follow his heart and face Sun Tianlong in the final, while Luo Jiu confronted Hook over revealing Wang Chao’s plan and the two reconciled.
• Wang Chao and Sun Tianlong traded short pushes and explosive attacks in the final, with Wang Chao using his movement and power to gain the early advantage.
• Qin Huachang became physically unwell while livestreaming the final but insisted on continuing his commentary.
• Wang Chao extended his lead to 5:2, forcing Sun Tianlong to abandon his orderly style and fight wildly.

Wang Chao defeated Sun Tianlong for Olympic gold and added more titles while building his doubles partnership with Wu Li. He refused to replace Tang Yuanyuan, and China’s mixed doubles setbacks eventually led Cai Guodong to recall them for November’s competition.

• Wang Chao defeated Sun Tianlong 4:0 for Olympic gold and promised him a Double Grand Slam before Sun Tianlong retired and became a coach.
• Luo Jiu secured Jiangcheng University Club’s Super League championship, while Wang Chao won the year-end finals and the National Games men’s singles and mixed doubles titles.
• Wang Chao reconsidered his feelings for Tang Yuanyuan after his parents questioned him and invited her to visit after New Year.
• Wang Chao began training Jiang Shan, refused to replace Tang Yuanyuan as his mixed doubles partner, and persuaded Cai Guodong to let him pair with Wu Li in men’s doubles.
• Cai Guodong abandoned efforts to replace Tang Yuanyuan after China’s other mixed doubles pairs failed internationally, and the Tang Dynasty Combination won the Kimchi Country Open.
• Spade Q won the Super League Spring Season championship, recruited Hou Xijia and Qiu Shang, and retained Wang Chao despite offers from rival clubs.
• Cai Guodong continued testing Wang Qin and Shen Sha in mixed doubles while Wang Chao assured Tang Yuanyuan that their partnership remained secure.
• Lin Zijun and Che Songxin defeated Wang Qin and Shen Sha 3:0 at the Sakura Country Open, prompting Cai Guodong to recall Wang Chao and Tang Yuanyuan for November’s competition.