By Thierry Verviers
The 2026 World Team Table Tennis Championships in London are proving that in sport, nothing is ever guaranteed. This centenary edition, held 100 years after the very first World Championships in this same city, has delivered incredible drama and major surprises.
With 64 teams per gender competing at the OVO Arena Wembley, the tournament has reached the final stages, with the finals set for May 9th and 10th. Here is a look back at the results that have shocked the table tennis world.
🇰🇷 Korea Republic and 🇸🇪 Sweden Topple China
In a stunning turn of events, the defending champions from China lost two consecutive matches in the group stage—a rarity in the modern era.
- The First Blow: Korea Republic dominated China with a 3-1 victory in Group 1, proving the giants are vulnerable.
- The Follow-up: The very next day, Sweden edged out China 3-2 to finish top of the group, led by Elias Ranefur and Anton Källberg.
🇫🇷 France’s Miraculous Comeback
France produced pure theatre in Group 2 against Japan. After trailing 0-2, Flavien Coton sparked a reversal with a fifth-game win against Togami. The Lebrun brothers then took over: Félix swept Harimoto 3-0, and Alexis clinched the 3-2 tie in a deciding game against Matsushima.
🇱🇺 Luxembourg and 🇦🇹 Austria: The Underdogs
The Round of 32 saw unlikely heroes emerge:
- Luxembourg avenged a past defeat to Brazil with a gripping 3-2 win.
- Austria delivered a flawless 3-0 sweep against a higher-ranked Indian team, led by Robert Gardos and Andreas Levenko.
🇺🇸 USA Women Driven by Youth
On the women’s side, 18-year-old Sally Moyland led the United States to a 3-1 victory over India. Her clinical efficiency and strategic focus on the backhand left observers impressed, marking her as a player to watch for the future.
🇹🇼 Chinese Taipei Stuns Top Seeds
In arguably the match of the tournament, Chinese Taipei eliminated top-seeded Sweden in the quarterfinals. While Lin Yun-Ju set the pace, 17-year-old Guan-Hong Kuo secured the defining 3-2 victory by battling past Anton Källberg in five games.
🇯🇵 Japan Takes Revenge
Japan secured emphatic revenge against Germany, who had beaten them earlier in the group stage. Harimoto Tomokazu was unstoppable, dismantling Benedikt Duda 3-0 and conceding only 14 points throughout the match.
What’s Next?
The men’s semifinals feature China, France, Japan, and the surprise package, Chinese Taipei. While the Chinese women remain overwhelming favorites to retain their title, this tournament has proven that the global balance of power is shifting.
SOURCES
ITTF — Official daily match reports from the World Team Table Tennis Championships London 2026
ittf.com
Table Tennis England — Tournament coverage, including Round of 16 and quarterfinal results
tabletennisengland.co.uk
Olympics.com — Full tournament schedule and results
olympics.com
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