This is the youthful vigor and sharpness that Lin Shidong should display, and the kind of performance that once carried him to the world No. 1 ranking. In the third match against the Romanian men’s team at the World Team Table Tennis Championships, Lin Shidong staged a comeback, sweeping Ovidiu Ionescu 3-0 to secure a crucial point for China. Wang Chuqin also contributed two points as China defeated Romania 3-1 to advance to the quarterfinals.
Lin Shidong had been under considerable pressure during this World Championships, having lost three matches against foreign opponents. In the group stage against South Korea, he fell 1-3 to Oh Junsung. Against Sweden, he suffered a 2-3 loss to Elias Ranefur and then a 1-3 defeat to Anton Källberg. Entering the knockout stage, Lin was deployed as the third singles player. In the previous match against Australia, he showed signs of recovery with a 3-0 win over Lu Wei.
In this match against Romania, Liang Jingkun lost the first match 0-3 to Eduard Ionescu. Wang Chuqin then swept Chirita 3-0 in the second match. Lin Shidong faced the experienced Ovidiu Ionescu in the third match. Lin built a 9-5 lead, but Ionescu repeatedly targeted Lin’s middle area, closing the gap to 9-8.
Lin called a timeout to regroup. After the pause, he regained his rhythm to take the first game 11-9. In the second game, Ionescu twice challenged calls in an attempt to disrupt Lin’s flow, but both challenges failed, actually handing Lin points. Unfazed, Lin remained focused and won the second game 11-6. By the third game, Lin had found an effective strategy against Ionescu, using hook serves to great effect and protecting his middle area well. He completely controlled the pace, punctuating the game with fist pumps and even short victory laps around the court.
Lin Shidong truly unleashed his potential and played with the spirit needed to perform at his best. After the Paris Olympics, Lin had surged in form, winning multiple titles and climbing to the world No. 1 ranking. However, from the second half of 2025, he entered a slump, dropping to world No. 6. For the Chinese team, Lin is a vital player. Head coach Wang Hao had been gentle and supportive in his guidance during the previous match against Australia, giving Lin space to find his own form. Now, Lin has rediscovered his touch.
For China to win this World Championships, Lin Shidong must regain top form. In tough matches, the team relies on Wang Chuqin to take two points and on Lin to contribute at least one point. If Lin can return to his best, he would be a strong candidate for the second singles spot, significantly boosting China’s championship hopes—especially given Liang Jingkun’s recent struggles, having lost five matches against foreign opponents in the past month. The expectation is for Lin to continue improving.