Together we stand

Barely two weeks into his new role as chairman of the Chinese Table Tennis Association, Wang Liqin is already setting the tone for a fresh chapter in the nation's storied legacy in the sport.

On May 2, at Chengdu's Chengdong Sports Park, the 46-year-old former world champion appeared alongside the national team — players and coaches alike — for a public, interactive table tennis event, marking his first major outing since assuming his new post.

But, before the event began, Wang made a quiet, yet telling, decision: He declined all media requests to interview individual players. Instead, he emphasized that the team was appearing as a united collective.

It was a symbolic move — and perhaps the first visible sign of the cultural reset Wang intends to lead, one that prioritizes team spirit over celebrity, discipline over fandom.

This shift comes at a pivotal moment. On April 23, during the second session of the 10th Member Congress of the Chinese Table Tennis Association held in Beijing, Chinese table tennis icon Liu Guoliang officially stepped down from his post, handing over leadership to Wang. The transition arrives at the dawn of a new Olympic cycle, offering a clean slate for the nation's strategy, preparation and vision for the sport.

Wang assumes the chairmanship with a formidable legacy of his own. A three-time world singles champion, and a key figure in China's golden era of table tennis, his deep roots in the sport lend him both credibility and insight.