Doubles, Mixed

As in the two team events, the mixed doubles also consisted of sixteen NOCs, each with a pair of table tennis players. The initial quarter of the total quota was awarded to the semi-finalists of the designated qualifying meet, scheduled for March/April 2024, while six continental qualification tournaments (Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania, with the Americas, divided between North and Latin, for an ITTF competition) offered a mixed doubles spot each to the top-ranked NOC from their respective continent. Apart from the host nation, the five highest-ranked eligible pairs obtained the remaining berths based on the ITTF World Ranking list of May 7, 2024.

The Chinese duo, Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha, entered the competition as the very clear favorites. They were not only World No.1 in doubles, but also led the world single’s ranking going into the Olympics. As a pair who were undefeated outside China for over four years, and boasting four WTT Series titles in 2024 alone, they were on a mission to reclaim the gold that slipped through Chinese fingers in Tokyo. Their track record was nothing short of jaw-dropping, with only six losses in their senior career together since 2018.

The duo easily reached the final, where they surprisingly met the unseeded duo from North Korea, Ri Jong-Sik and Kim Kum-Yong. After a thrilling match, the Chinese pair won by 4-2, claiming China’s first table tennis gold in Paris. This first one was followed by another four, resulting for the first time at the Olympics China having a clean sweep of all events, winning five gold medals. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a clean sweep for Wang and Sun, as she lost the women’s final and he was surprisingly eliminated in the first round of the men’s singles.