World Team Table Tennis Championships London 2026: China Team News and Updates

China has officially announced its roster for the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals London 2026 Presented by ACN. As the defending champions, China enters the tournament as the most formidable competitor based on world rankings, particularly within the women’s division.

The announcement, made on April 9, 2026, confirms a 10-player squad divided between the men’s and women’s teams. The championships are scheduled to take place in London at the Copper Box Arena and OVO Arena Wembley, starting in less than three weeks from April 12, 2026.

China Men’s Squad and Selection Surprises

The Chinese men’s team is led by world No 1 Wang Chuqin. The full roster for the men includes:

• Wang Chuqin
• Lin Shidong
• Zhou Qihao
• Xiang Peng
• Liang Jingkun

The selection has sparked significant discussion due to the absence of Olympic champion Fan Zhendong. Despite previous rumors suggesting he would return to the China line-up, he was not included on the official list. World No 14 Wen Ruibo was overlooked for the squad in favor of world No 23 Zhou Qihao.

Women’s Team Dominance

China’s women’s team continues to demonstrate overwhelming strength in the global rankings. The squad consists of Sun Yingsha, Wang Manyu, Chen Xingtong, Kuai Man, and Wang Yidi.

According to reports released on April 12, 2026, China possesses the world’s top four players in the women’s rankings, led by Sun Yingsha, and holds five of the top eight positions globally.

Japan’s Strategic Roster Shifts

Japan, which has contested the last five team finals against China, has introduced major surprises in its squad selection. The Japanese team has opted to leave out world No 10 Mima Ito and world No 13 Satsuki Odo.

The Japanese squad is led by Miwa Harimoto, the WTT Star Contender London champion. Japan has also selected 18-year-old Rin Mende, currently ranked world No 128, as their fifth player. Despite the exclusions, Japan still brings four players ranked in the top 20.

Global Field and Tournament Scale

The London 2026 championships will feature a massive field of 64 men’s teams and 64 women’s teams. The tournament will see the participation of nineteen of the top 20 men and the majority of the top 20 women in the world rankings.

Other high-ranking players confirmed for the event include:

• Truls Moregard (Sweden), world No 2
• Hugo Calderano (Brazil), world No 3
• Sabine Winter and Ying Han (Germany)
• Shin Yubin (South Korea)
• Adriana Diaz (Puerto Rico)
• Cheng I-Ching (Chinese Taipei)

Partnerships and Event Logistics

In addition to the roster reveals, it has been confirmed that the Agricultural Bank of China has returned as an official partner of the ITTF World Team Championships Finals London 2026 Presented by ACN Group.

The event marks the centenary championships, bringing together the world’s elite table tennis talent to compete for the top prizes across the two London venues.