The 15th National Games of China have concluded in Macao, delivering a week of high-level table tennis and confirming the dominance of the sport’s biggest names. While the individual event spotlighted Fan Zhendong, the team competitions offered one more chance for legend Ma Long to shine.
Men’s Event: Beijing’s Final Masterpiece
The highly anticipated final between Beijing and Shanghai lived up to expectations, ending with a 3–1 win for Beijing.
Led by captain Ma Long and world No. 1 Wang Chuqin, Beijing showcased depth, composure, and strategic precision.
Key Highlight:
Fan Zhendong secured the only point for Shanghai, once again confirming his exceptional form. However, Beijing’s overall strength across the lineup proved decisive.
Turning Point:
The opening doubles match—won by Ma Long and Wang Chuqin—immediately set the tone, putting Beijing ahead and forcing Shanghai to chase for the remainder of the match.
A Farewell Moment?:
For many observers, this victory feels like the perfect National Games farewell for Ma Long. With every major title already secured in his career, this team gold may mark his final bow at the event.
Women’s Event: Shandong Survives a Marathon Battle
Earlier in the week, the women’s title was decided in a dramatic 3–2 win for Shandong over Hebei.
Shandong, led by Chen Meng, overcame two individual victories from Sun Yingsha, who kept Hebei in the match. The decisive fifth match was won by Fan Siqi, sealing the victory and rewarding Shandong’s collective strength.
For Chen Meng, this triumph is particularly meaningful: team gold arrives twelve years after her first title at the National Games.
Medal Table – Team Events
| Medal | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | Beijing (Ma Long, Wang Chuqin) | Shandong (Chen Meng, Fan Siqi) |
| Silver | Shanghai (Fan Zhendong, Xu Xin) | Hebei (Sun Yingsha, He Zhuojia) |
| Bronze | Guangdong | Jiangsu |
Key Takeaway
The 2025 National Games highlighted a balanced evolution in Chinese table tennis. While rising stars like Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha are leading the new generation, veteran champions—Ma Long, Chen Meng, and Fan Zhendong—remain central pillars of stability, experience, and excellence.
The transition is underway, but the legends still stand tall.
Sources and Further Reading
- Xinhua (Nov 19, 2025): “Shandong claims women’s table tennis team title at China’s National Games.”
- “Ma Long seals career set as Beijing win table tennis men’s team title at China’s National Games.”
BLOG 