Team spirit contributes to China's victory at 2024 table tennis world cup

(ECNS) -- China triumphed over South Korea with an impressive 8:1 victory at the finals of the 2024 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Mixed Team World Cup on Sunday in Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, while Hong Kong, China secured the bronze medal against Romania by 8:2.

China’s top-ranked female player Sun Yingsha said at the press conference that throughout the competition, Chinese players demonstrated strong cohesion and fought with all their might in every match.

Over the course of 8 days and 11 intense matches, the Hong Kong team’s relentless fighting spirit, whether in victory or adversity, inspired countless fans.

When Hong Kong team won, players off the field would jump from their seats, raising their arms in celebration, echoing the cheers of the crowd. When it lost points, they would collectively hold their heads in disappointment.

Seeing their reactions perfectly synchronized, one netizen commented that at this moment, the Hong Kong team has truly embodied the team spirit.

In the bronze medal match, Yao Juntao, Wu Yonglin, Du Kaiqin, and Huang Zhenting led Hong Kong to the victory over Romania.

Huang stated that team spirit is an attitude and a mindset, which means whatever the circumstances, the team must give its all and fight for every point.

Du said that she always feels a greater sense of strength when playing in team events compared to individual matches. He thought that the performance of the Hong Kong team exemplifies the saying that it’s not about seeing hope and then working hard, but about working hard to create hope.

The ITTF World Cup is one of the premier international table tennis tournaments, alongside the Olympic Games and the World Table Tennis Championships. At the 2024 World Cup, 16 teams from around the world competed under an eight-out-of-15 format.