China sweeps Croatia to maintain winning run at ITTF Mixed Team World Cup

Wang Chuqin(L)/Sun Yingsha of China compete during the mixed doubles match against Ivor Ban/Hana Arapovic of Croatia during the stage 2 match at the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

China overwhelmed Croatia 8-0 for its fourth straight win at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Mixed Team World Cup on Wednesday.

CHENGDU, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- China overwhelmed Croatia 8-0 for its fourth straight win at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Mixed Team World Cup on Wednesday.

Mixed doubles Olympic champions Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha helped China to a 3-0 lead by dispatching Ivor Ban and Hana Arapovic 11-6, 11-5, 11-5.

"As the tournament progresses, our opponents will be stronger. Each individual match will be important to the final result, hopefully we can stay together and go all out in every match for the win," commented Sun.

Kuai Man added another three points for the defending champion with an 11-2, 11-5, 11-5 victory over Ivana Malobabic.

"Their arrangements of players were a little different from what we had expected. Facing a chopper, I made adjustments accordingly before the match, and just showed my level today," said Kuai.

Lin Shidong of China hits a return during the men's singles match against Tomislav Pucar of Croatia during the stage 2 match at the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

Lin Shidong secured China's one-sided win after getting past Tomislav Pucar 14-12, 11-4.

"As my teammates had already built a 6-0 lead in games, I felt steady and sure when entering the play, and was given more space to give full play to myself," Lin noted.

South Korea edged France 8-7 in a full-distance battle. With the score tied at 6-6 after four matches, Kim Na-yeong and Choi Hyo-joo came back from one game down to upset France's Yuan Jianan and Prithika Pavade 8-11, 11-3, 11-9 in the women's doubles decider.

Also on Wednesday, Japan outplayed Hong Kong, China 8-2, and Germany beat Sweden 8-5. Japan and Germany also went unbeaten after four rounds.

Winner of the past two editions on home soil, China takes on South Korea in the morning session, followed by a duel against France on Thursday.