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World Cup Macao: Olympic gold medallist and China's star paddler Wang Chuqin narrowly survived a major upset by Germany's Benedikt Duda on Friday to secure his spot in the semifinals of the ITTF Men's and Women's World Cup Macao 2025.

In an epic clash of left-handed players, Wang overcame Duda to win 4-3. After trading the first six games, Duda claimed match point in the decider, but Wang held his nerve and reeled off three straight points to seal a 12-10 victory.

"Starting from the third game, I was at a clear disadvantage. My opponent's consistency and shot quality during rallies exceeded what I expected. Even my high-quality shots were blocked and shut down by his placement," said Wang after the match. "I had to fight for every point, just trying to hang in there."