“I was a little shaken, but I was only thinking about winning” (LIANG Jingkun)
In the Men’s Singles at the 2026 World Championships in London, he won bronze for the fourth straight event, dating back to Budapest 2019. While players such as Ma Long, Fan Zhendong, and WANG Chuqin won titles, LIANG Jingkun remained a top-tier Player who had never quite found his way to a championship.
But at the World Table Tennis Championships London 2026 (Team Event), in the third match of the semi-final against France, he staged a stunning Comeback Victory from 0-2 down over A. Lebrun, and in the final against Japan, he overturned Tomokazu. HARIMOTO from 0-2 in the opening match, making a major contribution to China’s men’s team as they secured a 12th consecutive title. The “king without a crown” suddenly became the team’s hero, and Chinese media bestowed on him the title “King of Comebacks.”
Last year, LIANG Jingkun struggled with injuries to his lower back and knees, and in the European Smash in August 2025 he was soundly defeated by RASSENFOSSE Adrien of Belgium, then ranked No. 103 in the world. Even his selection for the London squad drew criticism from fans, with some asking, “Shouldn’t WEN Ruibo, who finished runner-up at the WTT Champions Chongqing, have been sent instead?” Even after the tournament began, defeats to OH Junsung (Korea), Truls MOREGARD (Sweden), and E. Ionescu (Romania) only intensified the backlash.
After losing to Truls MOREGARD in Sweden’s Stage 1A match in London, he could not hide his frustration
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