Hugo Calderano’s journey in table tennis began as a teenager when he showcased his potential at the 2014 World Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China, securing a bronze medal in the boys’ singles. Since then, Calderano has consistently aimed to reach the pinnacle of the sport.
On April 20, 2025, Calderano made history by becoming the first non-Asian and non-European to win the prestigious ITTF World Cup title. His path to victory was marked by impressive performances, making him one of the two unbeatable players in the competition.
Calderano’s remarkable run included defeating Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto and former world No. 1 Wang Chuqin. His mesmerizing display culminated in a 4-1 comeback win against the current world No. 1, Lin Shidong of China, in the final. Despite losing the first game 6-11, the 28-year-old Brazilian turned the tide with stunning performances, winning the next four games 11-7, 11-9, 11-4, and 11-5, completing his fairytale run in Macao, China.
Calderano’s victory made him the first Brazilian and Pan American player to win the ITTF Men’s and Women’s World Cup 2025, and the first player outside Asia and Europe to claim the title.
Reflecting on his achievement, Calderano said, “I think I played a great match. Lin is an amazing player and World No. 1, so I knew it was going to be a tough challenge. He started strong, but I was able to find some solutions. Winning the second game gave me a boost, and I think I was great tactically in the third and fourth games where I played some great table tennis.”
Acknowledging the efforts of other players to challenge China’s dominance, Calderano added, “Everyone knows China is the best country in table tennis, winning most of the big titles. But other countries are becoming stronger and believing more and more that they can achieve something big. China dominates most of the big events and world rankings, but it is clear that other countries are closing the gap, performing better, and bridging the gap.”