Chen Qi's Imminent Return to China Table Tennis to Fix Men's Doubles Gap for 2028 LA Olympics

Two weeks have passed since the conclusion of China's table tennis coach selection process, yet the official announcement of the new coaching staff remains pending. Even so, head coaches Wang Hao and Ma Lin have continued to lead their respective men's and women's teams as usual at the ongoing tournament in Doha. This reform, which attracted 43 candidates competing for 28 coaching positions, holds its biggest suspense not in potential changes to the head coaches of the men's and women's squads, but in the anticipated return of a key figure to shore up a critical weakness. Led by Wang Liqin, this coaching adjustment is closely tied to the team's strategic goal of securing all 6 gold medals at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and the inherent complexity of personnel coordination is the primary reason for the delayed official list.

The new competition rules for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics have completely reshaped the table tennis gold medal landscape, elevating doubles events from secondary supporting roles to core priority competitions. Out of the 6 total gold medals up for grabs, 4 are directly linked to doubles matches or mixed doubles combinations. However, China's men's doubles teams suffered a historic setback at the 2025 World Table Tennis Championships, failing to secure a spot in the top four for the first time in 50 years. This embarrassing result has laid bare a critical gap in the team's capabilities, making the rapid strengthening of the doubles training system an urgent strategic priority for the team's gold medal pursuit in the upcoming Olympics.

When it comes to identifying the ideal candidate to fill this men's doubles gap, there is no better fit than Chen Qi, the 2004 Athens Olympics men's doubles champion. Known by the fierce nickname "God of Slaughter" during his playing days, Chen Qi was widely regarded as the gold standard for doubles performance, standing at the pinnacle of the sport. Now serving as the head coach of Jiangsu's provincial table tennis team, he combines unparalleled practical doubles experience with a proven track record of coaching success. The framework of the new coaching staff is gradually taking clear shape: Qin Zhijian will retain his position as the overall head coach, Wang Hao and Ma Lin will continue in their roles as the men's and women's team head coaches respectively, and Xiao Zhan will take charge of overseeing the entire doubles program. Only the key position of a dedicated men's doubles coach remains vacant, a spot that appears to be specifically tailored for Chen Qi's return.

Chen Qi's return to the national team coaching staff will not only fill the urgent vacancy in the men's doubles coaching position but also bring his championship-winning mindset and technical expertise to guide young mainstays like Wang Chuqin. Currently, Qiu Yike will continue to coach top women's player Sun Yingsha, while Sun Xun is expected to take charge of Wang Chuqin's individual training. With the main player coaching lineup mostly finalized, Chen Qi's addition will complete the team's coaching puzzle, providing the much-needed boost for the men's doubles to regain its competitive edge and help the team achieve its 6-gold target at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.