In a breathtaking display of resilience, 29-year-old Liang Jingkun once again pulled off a stunning reversal on the grand stage. After trailing France’s Alexis Lebrun in the semifinals and winning three straight games, the Chinese table tennis star repeated the feat in the opening match of the men’s team final at the 2026 London World Championships—this time against archrival Tomokazu Harimoto. And he did it in even more dramatic fashion.
Liang lost the first two games 8-11 and 4-11, putting him on the brink of defeat. But the veteran refused to back down. He clawed his way back, winning the third game 11-9 and the fourth 13-11 after saving multiple game points. Then came the decider: Harimoto stormed to a 6-1 lead, and later 8-3. With his back against the wall, Liang unleashed a furious rally, winning eight consecutive points to take the game 11-8 and complete the impossible comeback.
The unbreakable spirit of Liang Jingkun has returned. After a rough stretch where he lost several external matches—including being eliminated in the group stage of the Macau World Cup—Liang endured three more defeats in the World Championships. Yet head coach Wang Hao never lost faith in him.
That trust paid off. In the semifinals against France, Liang’s 3-2 comeback over Alexis Lebrun secured a crucial point in a 3-1 team victory. In the final, Wang deployed Liang as the second singles player, pitting him against Harimoto in the opening rubber. The pressure was immense.
Harimoto started aggressively, dominating the first two games. But Liang’s experience in comeback scenarios shone through. From the third game onward, Harimoto became tentative and made uncharacteristic errors, while Liang played with freedom and courage.
After leveling the match, Liang faced a 6-1 deficit in the fifth. At 3-8, he was just three points from defeat. But then he took over, scoring eight straight points to win 11-8. Overjoyed, he sprinted to the Chinese team bench, pumping his fists in celebration.
Liang’s heroics have relieved immense pressure from teammate Wang Chuqin, who had been carrying the team during Liang’s and Lin Shidong’s earlier struggles. With the Los Angeles Olympic cycle on the horizon, Liang Jingkun has proven he is back to his peak form.