As Hugo Calderano books his spot in the finals of the men’s singles of the ITTF World Cup 2025, he etches his name in the history books, becoming the first Brazilian and Pan American player to make it to the finals of the men’s singles of the ITTF World Cup. With this win, he also cements his status as the greatest ever Pan American table tennis player.
Hugo Calderano, now 28, has been a trailblazer in table tennis since his early days. Starting at just 8 years old, he burst onto the international stage in 2013, making history as the youngest player to win a leg of the ITTF World Tour. That same year, he achieved the unique feat of claiming singles titles on both the ITTF Junior Circuit and the ITTF World Tour, establishing himself as a prodigious talent.
In 2014, Hugo Calderano achieved a groundbreaking milestone for Brazilian table tennis by securing the bronze medal at the Youth Olympic Games in China. This historic accomplishment marked Brazil’s first-ever medal in table tennis at an Olympic-level competition, further cementing Calderano’s reputation in the sport.
Since then, he has never looked back, consistently being amongst the top 10 players in the world over the last few years. However, despite his remarkable achievements, a medal at one of the sport’s premier competitions had eluded him.
The Paris Olympics in 2024 seemed poised to deliver that breakthrough, but Calderano narrowly missed out, finishing in a heartbreaking 4th place in what was widely seen as his strongest opportunity yet.
But a relentless Calderano refused to give in, reinventing his game and seeing his dedication pay off in a spectacular run at the ITTF World Cup 2025 in Macao. Delivering the performance of a lifetime, he staged an extraordinary comeback from 1-3 down to overcome crowd favourite and World No. 2 Wang Chuqin, etching his name into the annals of table tennis history.
The win has major ramifications for the sport, as it put firmly puts Brazil and Pan America on the map as one of the sport’s major powers. It is evident that the presence of Hugo has forced his compatriots and continent to push their level. Fellow Pan-American Kanak Jha had a great tournament, making it to the Round of 16 in the Men’s singles, while compatriot Bruna Takahashi was the only non-Asian women’s player to make it to a historic Quarterfinals of the Women’s singles.
Teammate and long-time friend Vitor Ishiy was emotional watching from the sidelines as his friend lay sprawled on the ground after his semifinal victory. “It is amazing, who would have thought that a Brazilian would get a medal at this stage! It is not over yet; we still have a chance to get the gold and Hugo will fight very hard for it. What he has done for Brazil and for Pan America is just unbelievable. He is single handedly responsible for many kids picking up a racket in Brazil and creating a culture, and he is an amazing ambassador for the sport. He loves doing developmental work as well, and has a huge impact on the popularity of the sport. He always gives his 200% when it comes to table tennis, and he deserves everything good coming his way”, said an ecstatic Ishiy.
Hugo Calderano, widely celebrated as the ‘Thrill from Brazil,’ is not only a remarkable athlete but also a multi-talented individual. Self-taught in reading and writing at just 4 years old, he later mastered solving the Rubik’s cube with a stunning 9-second average and speaks seven languages fluently—Portuguese, English, Spanish, German, Mandarin, French, and Italian.
As Calderano gears up for the thrilling final tomorrow, he will aim to prolong his phenomenal streak and mesmerize fans with his genius. With his determination, he might just secure a historic gold medal to crown his journey.
