For the first time since 2017, the men's table tennis singles World Cup title has been won by the Chinese team. It is Hugo Calderano who is breaking this monopoly, and the current world number three Brazilian is gradually rewriting the international table tennis landscape: he has become the most threatening challenger in the face of China's dominance of the men's singles gold medal at the 10th consecutive World Championships.

Hugo Calderano became the first table tennis player from Brazil and the Pan-American region to win the men's singles World Cup

Calderano's path to victory at last month's World Cup in Macau was legendary: he defeated world No. 2 Wang Chuqin and world No. 1 Lin Shidong in quick succession to win the title of table tennis in all three major tournaments (second only to the Olympics and the World Championships).

With the World Championships in Doha, Qatar (17-25 May) looming in sight, the Brazilian star is a strong contender for the title.

"After winning [the World Cup], I felt very encouraged." Calderano said this in an interview with the official Olympic website a few days ago, and click here to listen to the wonderful podcast. "Now that the World Championships are just around the corner, that's my next goal, and I've always believed that I have what it takes to beat the Chinese."

"That experience gave me confidence throughout my training and competition, realising that I had achieved great things in table tennis, and I felt that everything was worth it. The World Cup was a turning point in my career. ”

Hugo Calderano: From the regret of Paris to the counterattack of Macau

In the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, as the highest-ranked table tennis player in the Africa-Eurasian region,Hugo CalderanoCarrying the expectation of breaking the long-term monopoly of the two continents on table tennis Olympic medals.

The Brazilian made it all the way to the semi-finals of the men's singles, but lost in six games against Sweden's 19th seed Moregaard in the semi-finals. In the bronze medal match, he lost 0-4 to the host country's rising star Felix Lebrun and missed the podium.

"Obviously, the period after the Olympics wasn't easy for me," Calderano admits, "and I seemed to have lost my motivation and was trying to get back that joy and passion for playing." During those months of competition, I felt like I was wandering in a fog. ”

"The real difficulty is in training day in and day out, and that's where the gap can really be widened. And the most important thing is actually the psychological aspect: you have to stay focused on your goals at all times. You will only perform better if you feel happy, relaxed, and free of stress. In this way, little by little, I regained my true self. ”

At that time, Hugo couldn't even say words to comfort himself. The frustration was so heavy that no words seemed weak. ”

However, it is precisely with the persistence of "one step at a time" and the accumulation of one event after another that Calderano finally ushered in a moment of transformation at the ITTF Macau Men's Singles World Cup in April this year.

In the knockout stage, he defeated three strong opponents one after another: in the quarterfinals, he defeated the world No. 3 and Japanese player Tomokazu Zhangmoto in the quarterfinals, and reversed the world No. 2 Wang Chuqin in the semifinals in a desperate situation of 1-3, and defeated the world No. 1 4-2 in the finalLin ShidongClimb to the top. In particular, the shocking reversal against Wang Chuqin can be called a classic battle of his career.

"To win against such a strong opponent and win the title, I have to play at the highest level. It's really harder to be able to play like this in a game of this caliber at the World Cup. I think all this is inseparable from my preparation and long-term systematic training. ”

Hugo Calderano: Take off the championship baggage and focus on the moment

Whether it is the upcoming World Table Tennis Championships or other competitions, the new World Cup champion Hugo Calderano said that he will not have any baggage because of this title.

"I don't think it's going to put pressure on me – the most important thing is that I'm confident now and I'm ready to compete with the best in the world again. I'll definitely go about the race with a relaxed mind. ”

Talking about the biggest takeaway from the Paris Olympics, Calderano added: "It's about living in the moment, enjoying the joy of sport, and learning to fail. ”

"I've always been good at facing wins and defeats and learning from experience. It is important that you understand that the trough is only temporary. ”

"I always see the process as a challenge. I'm constantly thinking about how I can do better; It's the same in table tennis, and I try to understand it. That's one of the best things about sport – it's a never-ending quest for improvement. ”

However, Calderano is confident that the Chinese will make a comeback with even more fighting spirit after the defeat in Macau, proving that it was just a coincidence.

At present, the Chinese men's team is in a stage of replacement and reorganization of the old and the new - with Ma Long and Fan Zhendong fading out of the international arena, the new men's world champion will be born from a new generation of players, and there may be a gap in experience within the Chinese team.

And as a three-time Olympic veteran (who made his debut in Rio de Janeiro on his home turf), Calderano believes that "experience can be a very important factor." ”

But he will not be complacent. "For example, Wang Chuqin, he has already participated in the Olympics and reached the final of the World Championships. He also has his own experience, after all, he has been playing professionally for a long time. Calderano noted.

"Lin Shidong is of course younger, but he's now the number one player in the world. He's already won a lot of important titles, and so have others – like Liang Jingkun, who is just as experienced in the tournament. ”

"I think the end result will depend on who is better prepared and who can handle the pressure better. Of course, experience is important, but at the end of the day, whoever is better prepared will have the last laugh. ”