The 2024 Paris Olympics table tennis competition witnessed a stunning upset on July 31 as world number one Wang Chuqin of China was eliminated in the third round by Swedish player Truls Möregårdh, ranked 26th in the world. Möregårdh secured a 4-2 victory with scores of 12-10, 11-7, 5-11, 7-11, 11-9, and 11-6. This unexpected defeat came just a day after Wang had clinched the mixed doubles gold medal with partner Sun Yingsha.Wang’s loss was particularly dramatic as it followed an incident where his primary racket was accidentally broken by a photographer during a post-match celebration. Despite playing with a reserve racket, Wang admitted to losing emotional control but insisted it didn’t significantly affect his performance. Möregårdh, who had previously lost to Wang eight times in a row, attributed his win partly to Wang having an off day.In badminton, Indian players made significant strides in their respective singles events. Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu advanced to the Round of 16 in women’s singles with a dominant performance against Estonia’s Kristin Kuuba, winning 21-5, 21-10 in just 32 minutes. Sindhu, who topped her group, will face China’s He Bing Jiao in the pre-quarters.In the men’s singles, 22-year-old Lakshya Sen caused an upset by defeating world number 3 Jonatan Christie of Indonesia 21-18, 21-12 to secure his spot in the pre-quarterfinals. Sen’s victory sets up a potential clash with compatriot HS Prannoy in the next round, pending Prannoy’s final group stage match.These results highlight the unpredictable nature of Olympic competition, with established champions facing unexpected challenges and rising stars seizing their moments on the global stage.
Key points
- World No.
- Indian badminton players PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen advanced to the Round of 16 with impressive victories.
- The Olympics continue to produce unexpected results, challenging favorites and showcasing emerging talents.
1 table tennis player Wang Chuqin was eliminated in the third round of the Olympics after his racket was broken.
Contradictions👾While most sources agree that Wang Chuqin’s broken racket incident occurred after his mixed doubles victory, one source suggests it happened during a doubles match, creating a minor discrepancy in the timeline of events.
