Serving up a singular year

In a year of unparalleled dominance, China's table tennis team didn't just win — it swept. Five Olympic golds in Paris. World championships in every category of the sport. Ten titles that underscored its iron grip on a game it has long ruled.

Adding to this stellar record, the team dominated December's yearend ITTF rankings, claiming No 1 spots in four of the five categories. Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha led the men's and women's singles, respectively, while the pairs of Chen Meng and Wang Manyu and Wang Chuqin and Sun led the women's doubles and mixed doubles, respectively, closing out the year with a commanding statement of their supremacy.

Yet, behind the glittering victories lies a more complex story. Concerns over a smooth generational transition and the pressures of celebrity-like attention on star players now loom large, raising critical questions about the team's future path to sustained excellence.

At the Paris Olympics, China's table tennis team delivered a historic sweep, claiming all five gold medals and reaffirming its unshakable dominance on the global stage.

The mixed doubles event marked a significant breakthrough, with Wang Chuqin and Sun clinching a first-ever Olympic gold for China in the discipline. In men's singles, Fan Zhendong secured his maiden Olympic gold, completing a career Grand Slam. On the women's singles stage, Chen triumphed in a thrilling showdown against teammate Sun to capture her second consecutive Olympic title.

In the team competitions, China's dominance continued unabated. Both the men's and women's teams extended their Olympic reigns to five consecutive gold medals, showcasing unparalleled collective strength.

China's supremacy extended beyond the Olympics. In February, the team claimed both men's and women's titles at the World Table Tennis Team Championships in Busan, South Korea.

April's World Cup in Macao saw China sweep the men's and women's singles finals.

Ma Long defeated Lin Gaoyuan to secure his third World Cup title, notching his 30th career world championship and cementing his legendary legacy. On the women's side, Sun narrowly edged Wang Manyu to claim her first World Cup title, adding another accolade to her growing resume.

December brought yet another resounding victory. At the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup Finals in Chengdu, Sichuan province, China decisively defeated rival South Korea 8-1, successfully defending its title and capping off a year of exceptional success.