Calderano world table tennis runner‑up after unprecedented campaign
After a historic campaign for table tennis players from the Americas, Brazil’s Hugo Calderano finished runner-up at the World Championships in Doha, Qatar, on Sunday (May 25).
Number three in the world, the 28-year-old from Rio de Janeiro was beaten in the final by China’s Wang Chuquin, second in the rankings, four sets to one (12–10, 11–3, 4–11, 11–2, 11–7).
This is the first time the Brazilian has reached a World Championship final, which until then had been dominated by Asian and European players.
The setback comes a month after the Asian was beaten four sets to three by Calderano in the semi-finals of the World Cup in Macau. Now, in the all-time record of matches between the two, the Chinese athlete has the lead, with five wins in seven encounters.
This is Wang’s first world title—he reached the final in 2023, but finished second. China is the biggest power in table tennis, having topped the podium in the last 11 World Championships.
“I couldn’t perform at my best today. The physical aspect weighed me down, yesterday’s game exhausted me. I’m still exhausted. I tried to recover as best as I could. During the match I tried to come back, put up a fight, and do my best, but I had nothing left in the tank,” Calderano said after the defeat.
The unprecedented silver for Brazil was also cause for celebration for the Rio star.
“It was an incredible tournament. Before the competition, if someone had told me I’d come away with a medal, I’d have been thrilled. In the end I managed to do my best. It means a lot because it’s always been one of my big goals. A few years ago it was difficult for a Brazilian to dream of a medal at the World Championships, and we pulled it off,” he declared.
“Of course we feel like aiming higher and higher. I wanted to leave here as world champion, but I’m sure I’ll have other opportunities. I’m going to keep raising my level and preparing to be even better in the next ones,” he concluded saying.
After nine seasons playing for Germany’s Liebherr Ochsenhausen, Calderano will now focus on the German table tennis league final against Borussia Düsseldorf on June 15.
