Wang Chuqin: Five things you don’t know about the Chinese table tennis star
Did you know that the Chinese paddling sensation is a fan of pool and loves hot pots? Read on to find out more secrets behind the Paris 2024 team gold medallist.
Table Tennis
Chinese table tennis player Wang Chuqin is one of the most talented stars in the sport and has held the No.1 spot in the world rankings since March 2024.
Competing in the Olympics for the first time this summer, Wang helped the People's Republic of China team win two gold medals: one in mixed doubles with his partner Sun Yingsha, and the other in the men's team event alongside captain Ma Long and men's singles champion Fan Zhendong.
The 24-year-old paddler has gained attention for his left-handed skills and incredible rallies, but what else might you not know about him?
1 - Looking up to idol Ma Long
Ma Long is is widely regarded as one of the greatest table tennis players of all time, with six Olympic gold medals across four Games.
Twelve years younger than Ma, Wang has always considered his teammate the leader of the group and has been a huge fan since childhood.
“He (Ma Long) plays the ball delicately and he is also a very nice person. I like his playing style," Wang said in an interview when he was 15, the age at which he made his debut on the Chinese national team.
They've been learning from each other ever since, and they even practised speaking English together for international competitions and interviews.
"I admired how he plays the game and how focused he is each time he plays a match," Wang told World Table Tennis last year. "His determination and his IQ for this sport are things I have absorbed over time."
2 - He is a pool enthusiast
When Wang is not winning medals, he enjoys playing pool and snooker with friends to unwind from the pressure of competition.
"I like spending time alone, and sometimes I'll take my cue to find a room and play for the whole afternoon," Wang said. "I really enjoy the feeling of quietness."
Seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan is his favourite snooker player.
After Wang's impressive performance at the Olympics, the Englishman recorded a video to congratulate him.
Wang Chuqin (left) celebrates team gold with Ma Long and Fan Zhendong at Paris 2024
3 - Wang loves hot pot and Fried Pork in Scoop
Growing up in northeastern China, Wang is a fan of the local dish Fried Pork in Scoop, which consists of fried pork strips with a sweet and sour flavour.
Nothing compares to a delicious Fried Pork in Scoop in Wang's household. When his dad was asked what the first meal would be for his son after he returned home from the Olympics, he said, "definitely Fried Pork in Scoop!"
In addition to the taste of home, Wang also enjoys having hot pot -- a communal dining experience where a pot of simmering broth is placed at the centre of the table, and diners can add a variety of ingredients -- especially when sharing meals with his teammates.
4 - Wang Chuqin's nickname
Wang’s coach gave him the nickname “Big Head” when he was a child, and it has stuck with him ever since on Chinese social media, and even his parents call him by this nickname.
One time, he mentioned during a livestream that he had a big head as a child, hence the nickname.
5 - He is left-handed, but not entirely…
Wang is one of the few left-handed table tennis players in Chinese team history, and the first left-hander from his country to qualify for the Olympic men's singles in the 21st century.
However, he is not entirely left-handed; while he eats with his left hand, he writes with his right!