The ITTF Men’s and Women’s World Cup reaches its climax today at Galaxy Arena, with finals that showcase both the breathtaking talent of China’s next generation and a potential watershed moment for Brazilian and Pan American table tennis.
This year, the ITTF World Cup has highlighted a remarkable youth movement within their ranks. The tournament’s finals day features three Chinese players with an average age of just 21.7 years, signalling the seamless transition to a new generation of superstars.
In the Women’s Singles final, defending champion Sun Yingsha (pictured above) may seem like a veteran with her vast collection of titles, but at just 24 years old, she remains firmly in the early prime of her career. Already boasting an impressive 89% career win rate and 23 professional titles—including two in 2025 alone—Sun has established herself as the premier force in women’s table tennis.
Across the table will be her 21-year-old compatriot Kuai Man (pictured at top of article), whose breakthrough season has captured the attention of the table tennis world. With an outstanding 84% win rate this year and her first title of 2025 already secured, Kuai has announced herself as the sport’s next great talent.
Despite Kuai Man’s remarkable rise, history heavily favours Sun Yingsha in this all-Chinese final. Sun has won all three of their previous encounters without dropping a set, including their most recent meeting at the 2025 Singapore Smash, where she prevailed 4-1 (11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-4).
In the Men’s Singles, 20-year-old Lin Shidong (pictured above) represents the vanguard of China’s next generation. The world number one has enjoyed a meteoric rise with an 83% career win rate and eight titles already to his name despite his tender age.
Lin’s semifinal victory over compatriot Liang Jingkun showcased the poise and adaptability that belie his years. After dropping a tightly contested first game, Lin methodically dismantled his senior teammate, winning four consecutive games to secure his place in the final.
Standing in Lin Shidong’s path to glory is Brazil’s Hugo Calderano, whose journey to the final has already rewritten the history books. By defeating World No. 2 Wang Chuqin in a seven-game thriller, Calderano became the first Brazilian and Pan American player ever to reach an ITTF World Cup final.
At 28 years old, Hugo Calderano (pictured above) brings considerably more experience to the table, with 968 career matches and 24 professional titles to his name. Though he has yet to capture silverware in 2025, his remarkable form in the World Cup suggests that drought might soon end in spectacular fashion.
Intriguingly, Calderano holds the psychological edge in their head-to-head matchup, having staged a remarkable comeback from 0-2 down to defeat Lin in five games at the 2023 WTT Contender Durban—their only previous encounter.
Today’s finals not only showcase exceptional talent but also represent potential watershed moments. For Kuai Man, victory would announce her arrival as table tennis’ newest superstar. For Lin Shidong, it would confirm his status as the sport’s present and future. For Sun Yingsha, another title would further cement her legacy as one of the all-time greats.
For Hugo Calderano, however, gold would transcend personal achievement to become a landmark moment for an entire continent. A Brazilian victory would represent a seismic shift in a sport traditionally dominated by Asian and European nations.
The Women’s Singles final begins at 19:30 local time, followed by the Men’s Singles final at 20:15. Catch the action live on ITTF’s YouTube or find out more on where to watch here. To follow the results as it happens visit the event website here.
