"Great Wall Turns to Paper Wall"... Jang Woojin and Cho Dae-seong Sink China 3–2 Again in WTT Final

China’s supposedly impregnable "Great Wall" of table tennis turned out to be nothing more than a flimsy paper wall in the face of Korea’s fiery game. The pair of Jang Woojin (SeAH Group) and Cho Dae-seong (Hwaseong Urban Corporation) tore down that Great Wall in style right at the start of the new year in Doha, effectively China’s home away from home.
On the 18th (Korean time) in Doha, Qatar, Jang Woojin and Cho Dae-seong captured a dramatic victory in the men’s doubles final at the "WTT Star Contender Doha 2026," defeating China’s Huang Yuzheng and Wen Ruibo 3–2 in sets (5–11, 11–8, 11–6, 5–11, 11–9).
This triumph was nothing short of a giant-killing run. In the round of 16, the Jang–Cho duo had already sent home China’s strongest combination, which included world No. 2 Lin Shidong. In the final, they sank yet another Chinese pair, turning the entire tournament into a showcase of Korean victories over China.
The match unfolded like a plot-twisting drama. They dropped the first game 5–11 in disappointing fashion and seemed to be overwhelmed by China’s momentum. But Korean table tennis thrives under pressure. As Jang Woojin’s powerful forehand and Cho Dae-seong’s piercing left-handed drives came to life, they took the second and third games in succession and flipped the match on its head.
After losing the fourth game, everything came down to a decisive fifth. On this knife-edge, Korea’s focus shone through. Following nail-biting rallies right up to the final point, they closed out the match 11–9. The Chinese bench fell silent, while Jang Woojin and Cho Dae-seong roared as they embraced each other.
With this victory, the two players returned to the top of the international podium for the first time in about 3 years and 7 months, since the Zagreb event in June 2022. It was Korea’s first table tennis title of 2026, and one of their most exhilarating wins over China.
From the very first tournament of the new year, Jang Woojin and Cho Dae-seong have dented China’s pride. In 2026, the unstoppable charge of Korean table tennis has begun.
jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter