Calderano's dedication and psychological toughness crowned him a World Cup champion
Hugo Calderano of Brazil claimed the men's singles title at the International Table Tennis Federation World Cup held in Macao earlier this month, defeating the top two players in the world rankings, Wang Chuqin and Lin Shidong, both home favorites....
TroibNews 
Hugo Calderano of Brazil claimed the men's singles title at the International Table Tennis Federation World Cup held in Macao earlier this month, defeating the top two players in the world rankings, Wang Chuqin and Lin Shidong, both home favorites.
Following his historic victory, Calderano spoke with CN Sports Scene's Mike Fox for the latest edition of the "Talk Sports" exclusive interview series. He discussed the journey to his momentous win, the role of table tennis in fostering China-Brazil relations, and his aspirations for the upcoming ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals in Doha.
At 28 years old, Calderano described his triumph in Macao as the pinnacle of his career, making him the first Brazilian player to secure the men's singles title at this prestigious event. He attributed his success to hard work, mental fortitude, and seizing pivotal moments.
"In a tournament between 48 of the world's best international players, the Brazilian became the first player from the Americas to reach the final and win the tournament by beating China's Lin Shidong, the World No 1, this Easter Sunday," Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva congratulated him on social media, praising Calderano's accomplishment. "Fantastic work by a top-five-in-the-world athlete who, for almost 15 years, has been supported by the federal government's athlete grant. Congratulations, Hugo Calderano. Immensely proud."
Calderano's achievement has captured the admiration of many fans in China, a nation that has long dominated the sport. He believes the gap between Chinese players and their international rivals is diminishing.
Additionally, Calderano has been learning Chinese to enhance cultural understanding, and he is convinced that sports are playing a significant role in strengthening the bonds between China and Brazil.
As he looks forward to the upcoming World Table Tennis Championships Finals in Doha and the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, Calderano expressed that his World Cup victory has boosted his confidence and he is poised to compete for more titles in the future.
Lucas Dupont contributed to this article for TROIB News
Following his historic victory, Calderano spoke with CN Sports Scene's Mike Fox for the latest edition of the "Talk Sports" exclusive interview series. He discussed the journey to his momentous win, the role of table tennis in fostering China-Brazil relations, and his aspirations for the upcoming ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals in Doha.
At 28 years old, Calderano described his triumph in Macao as the pinnacle of his career, making him the first Brazilian player to secure the men's singles title at this prestigious event. He attributed his success to hard work, mental fortitude, and seizing pivotal moments.
"In a tournament between 48 of the world's best international players, the Brazilian became the first player from the Americas to reach the final and win the tournament by beating China's Lin Shidong, the World No 1, this Easter Sunday," Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva congratulated him on social media, praising Calderano's accomplishment. "Fantastic work by a top-five-in-the-world athlete who, for almost 15 years, has been supported by the federal government's athlete grant. Congratulations, Hugo Calderano. Immensely proud."
Calderano's achievement has captured the admiration of many fans in China, a nation that has long dominated the sport. He believes the gap between Chinese players and their international rivals is diminishing.
Additionally, Calderano has been learning Chinese to enhance cultural understanding, and he is convinced that sports are playing a significant role in strengthening the bonds between China and Brazil.
As he looks forward to the upcoming World Table Tennis Championships Finals in Doha and the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, Calderano expressed that his World Cup victory has boosted his confidence and he is poised to compete for more titles in the future.
Lucas Dupont contributed to this article for TROIB News
