Calderano makes history, faces Chuqin in final at Worlds

Doha, Qatar: Brazil s Hugo Calderano set up a blockbuster ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals gold medal clash with World No.2 Wang Chuqin of...

Doha, Qatar: Brazil’s Hugo Calderano set up a blockbuster ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals gold medal clash with World No.2 Wang Chuqin of China in Doha yesterday.

After overcoming China’s Liang Jingkun 4-3 (15-13, 11-7, 8-11, 11-8, 3-11, 7-11, 11-9) in a thrilling semi-final at the Lusail Multipurpose Hall, Calderano secured his maiden appearance in the men’s singles title-clash.

The world No. 4 also became the first Latin American to play in a singles title clash in the event’s 98-year history.

“Liang is a fighter,” Calderano said after the game which took one hour and 15 minutes to finish.

“I played at my best from the beginning to the end. Of course he is strong, he can react [fast], he gets better every year. Somehow, in the last set I was losing, but I knew I would win. I scored 10 consecutive points. When he scored the first point after that, the magic ended. But I managed to hold on,” Calderano said in a TV interview.