Lin Shidong hits a return during the men's singles round of 32 match between Lin Shidong of China and Kristian Karlsson of Sweden at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
DOHA, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Top-seeded Lin Shidong from China reached the last 16 of the men's singles at the World Table Tennis Championships following a stunning loss in the mixed doubles fourth round on Wednesday.
The 20-year-old overcame a slow start to defeat world No. 74 Kristian Karlsson of Sweden 8-11, 11-1, 11-6, 11-5, 11-9.
"He is a very strong player and I played a good match, but it was not enough," said Karlsson.
"Normally I play with a lot of power, but Lin was way faster than me. I played the first ball quite hard, but he caught it, and I was too slow to follow up."
Earlier in the day, as the top seeds in mixed doubles, Lin and Kuai Man were upset by 16th-seeded Japanese Maharu Yoshimura and Satsuki Odo 3-1 (8-11, 11-5, 13-11, 12-10), leaving Olympic champions Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha as the only pair from Team China in contention. ■
Lin Shidong hits a return during the men's singles round of 32 match between Lin Shidong of China and Kristian Karlsson of Sweden at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
Lin Shidong serves during the men's singles round of 32 match between Lin Shidong of China and Kristian Karlsson of Sweden at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
Lin Shidong reacts during the men's singles round of 32 match between Lin Shidong of China and Kristian Karlsson of Sweden at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
Lin Shidong hits a return during the men's singles round of 32 match between Lin Shidong of China and Kristian Karlsson of Sweden at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)
Lin Shidong serves during the men's singles round of 32 match between Lin Shidong of China and Kristian Karlsson of Sweden at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
Lin Shidong reacts before the men's singles round of 32 match between Lin Shidong of China and Kristian Karlsson of Sweden at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
Lin Shidong hits a return during the men's singles round of 32 match between Lin Shidong of China and Kristian Karlsson of Sweden at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
Lin Shidong hits a return during the men's singles round of 32 match between Lin Shidong of China and Kristian Karlsson of Sweden at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)
Kristian Karlsson hits a return during the men's singles round of 32 match between Lin Shidong of China and Kristian Karlsson of Sweden at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)
Kristian Karlsson hits a return during the men's singles round of 32 match between Lin Shidong of China and Kristian Karlsson of Sweden at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)
