CHENGDU, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- The 2025 International Table Tennis Federation Mixed Team World Cup concluded in Chengdu on Sunday evening, with Germany defeating South Korea 8-7 in a tense bronze medal match to secure its first podium finish at the event.
The victory came against a South Korean team that had finished runner-up in the previous two editions and marked a significant milestone for German table tennis, which players said reflected a successful blend of veteran experience and emerging talent.
Germany has long been a major force in European and world table tennis - a reputation shaped in large part by the career of Timo Boll. Since his breakthrough in the late 1990s, Boll became one of the few Europeans capable of consistently challenging China's dominance, defeating Olympic champions Kong Linghui, Wang Liqin, Ma Lin and Wang Hao at major events.
Before retiring at age 44 in June, Boll also faced world No. 1 Wang Chuqin, capping a career that spanned more than two decades against successive generations of China's top players.
But German table tennis has not relied on a single star. Following Boll, players including Dimitrij Ovtcharov, Patrick Franziska, Benedikt Duda and Qiu Dang have helped the team win multiple Olympic men's team medals and maintain its position at the top of European competition.
Qiu Dang said Germany's success is rooted in continuity.
"Players like Boll are ahead of us, and behind us are young athletes who are beginning to shine," he said, describing a "virtuous cycle" that allows experience and youth to reinforce each other.
Duda said the tradition brings both opportunity and pressure.
"It's always an advantage, but sometimes also a disadvantage, because expectations are high," he said. "If you want to improve, you try to build your own legacy and make it better."
At this year's Mixed Team World Cup, Franziska delivered one of the standout performances of his career despite Germany's overall loss to China earlier in the tournament. The 33-year-old defeated world No. 1 Wang Chuqin 2-1 in the men's singles, earning two crucial points.
"I've played Wang Chuqin several times but never beaten him," Franziska said. "He's the world No. 1, so I prepared thoroughly. From the first point, you have to go all out, take the initiative and stay focused."
Although Germany lost the tie, Franziska said he was satisfied with his performance and remains motivated as he moves further into his thirties.
"Even though I'm 33, my body doesn't feel old," he said. "I've kept good fitness habits for many years, and I hope both my physical condition and mental sharpness stay strong for several more years."
Germany's bronze medal run included two narrow victories over South Korea, both by 8-7 margins, one in the second-stage round-robin and again in the third-place match.
The German women played a decisive role, with Nina Mittelham and Sabine Winter claiming key points in women's doubles. Their contribution highlighted a shift away from Germany's long-standing image as a men's-heavy program toward a more balanced team structure.
Germany's domestic league is also playing a growing role in its international profile. In 2016, 19-year-old Fan Zhendong won his first major singles title in Saarbrucken. This summer, the Chinese star returned to the city as a player for 1. FC Saarbrucken Tischtennis, quickly becoming one of the league's biggest attractions.
Franziska said Fan's arrival has led to him gaining a larger following among Chinese fans, with some even traveling to Germany to cheer on the team.
"That really surprised and touched me," Franziska said. "We warmly welcome Asian players. We can learn from each other and become friends. Their presence promotes not only sporting exchange but also mutual understanding."
Germany's Bundesliga has increasingly attracted players from East Asia. Chinese penhold player Xue Fei has joined TSV Bad Konigshofen, while Japanese men's doubles champions Shunsuke Togami and Hiroto Shinozuka are also competing in the league.
"Even if we come from different countries, we can still be teammates and friends," Franziska said. "On court we are rivals, but off court we are friends. Table tennis is a treasure we all love, and international exchanges make it shine even brighter." Enditem
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