LONDON, October, 2025. With a commanding 4–2 triumph over Japan’s world No. 4 Tomokazu Harimoto, European Champion Dang Qiu has made a remarkable return to the international stage. The 28-year-old German, who had been sidelined for weeks due to a shoulder injury, claimed his first WTT Star Contender title, earning 600 world ranking points and $17,000 in prize money. The WP Times reports, citing the official WTT website.

A symbolic win for German table tennis

Qiu’s performance in London went beyond a routine victory. After a blistering start that saw him win the first three games (13–11, 12–10, 12–10), Harimoto battled back to narrow the gap. But in the sixth game, Qiu sealed the match on his second championship point — an emphatic statement of confidence and resilience.

“I’m honestly speechless,” Qiu said courtside. “Coming back from injury, I only wanted to find my rhythm again. Winning here means the world to me — it proves I’m back.”

From recovery to redemption

The Düsseldorf-based player, coached by Dustin Gesinghaus, overcame a challenging draw — defeating Chan Baldwin(Hong Kong), Manav Thakkar (India), Kay Stumper (Germany) and Polish rising star Milosz Redzimski before his final against Harimoto. The two had met only once before, with the Japanese player prevailing three years ago.

A comeback that strengthens Europe’s presence

This is Qiu’s second major WTT title after his victory at the WTT Contender Lima in 2022. His success sends a strong signal for European table tennis, long dominated by Asian players. Qiu’s win not only restores confidence in German men’s table tennis but also raises expectations ahead of the 2026 season.

Next up: Montpellier and Frankfurt

There will be little time for celebration. Qiu heads straight to France for the WTT Champions Montpellier (October 28 – November 2), where he faces world No. 8 Benedikt Duda in the first round. The following week, from November 4 to 9, Frankfurt’s Süwag Energie Arena will host the WTT Champions Frankfurt, a $500,000 event featuring ten German players, including Ovtcharov, Franziska, Han and Mittelham.

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