Zhou Qihao: China's 2026 world team champion
Zhou Qihao is a Chinese table tennis player born in Guangzhou in 1997, right-handed with a shakehand grip. He beat Ma Long in the 2017 Chinese trials, won WTT Contender Lagos 2023 and Star Contender Doha 2026, and was a world team champion in London 2026.
In this article
Zhou Qihao made his name in China in 2017 by beating then Olympic champion Ma Long in the national team trials. Nearly a decade later, at 29, he crowned his career with gold at the London 2026 World Team Championships and a major WTT title.
This page covers Zhou Qihao's career, his titles and his playing style.
Who is Zhou Qihao
Zhou Qihao was born on January 12, 1997, in Baiyun district, Guangzhou, China. He started table tennis at age 6, encouraged by his father, and joined the national team in 2012. He is right-handed and plays the shakehand grip in an offensive style.
Zhou Qihao's titles
| Event | Results |
|---|---|
| World Championships | Team champion at London 2026, with China (the country's 12th men's team title) |
| WTT | Contender Lagos 2023 and Star Contender Doha 2026 |
| Junior circuit | ITTF junior circuit singles champion in 2011 |
| Ranking | 13th in the world in October 2026 |
Career highlights
In 2017 Zhou beat Ma Long at the "Strongest 12" team selection event, a result that put him on the map. In 2023 he won WTT Contender Lagos, his first WTT singles title. After that he went nearly three years without another WTT title.
2026: Doha and world gold
In January 2026 Zhou won WTT Star Contender Doha, beating fellow Chinese player Wen Ruibo 4-2 in the final, his first title at that level. In April he was part of the Chinese squad that beat Japan 3-0 in the London World Team Championships final, his first world title. In the October 26, 2026 update he was 13th in the world. See how it works in table tennis world ranking. For more on the Chinese team, see also Fan Zhendong.
Playing style
Zhou is an attacking shakehand player in the Chinese tradition:
- A powerful forehand, with fast, heavy topspin.
- Aggressive mid-distance play, with good footwork.
- The ability to upset favorites, as he showed by beating Ma Long.
To compare it with penhold, see shakehand vs penhold.
Recent results on the tour
| Year | Wins | Losses |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 16 | 8 |
| Total | 16 | 8 |
| W | WTT Champions Montpellier 2026 2026-10-30 | Men's singles Round of 16 | Zhou Qihao CHN vs Felix Lebrun FRA 3-1 7-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7 |
| W | WTT Champions Montpellier 2026 2026-10-28 | Men's singles Round of 32 | Oh Junsung KOR vs Zhou Qihao CHN 2-3 11-5, 11-5, 8-11, 5-11, 4-11 |
| L | China Smash 2026 2026-10-11 | Men's singles Semifinals | Zhou Qihao CHN vs Matsushima Sora JPN 2-4 6-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-7, 7-11, 5-11 |
| W | China Smash 2026 2026-10-09 | Men's singles Quarterfinals | Jang Woojin KOR vs Zhou Qihao CHN 2-4 10-12, 11-8, 11-4, 9-11, 12-14, 6-11 |
| W | China Smash 2026 2026-10-08 | Men's singles Round of 16 | Zhou Qihao CHN vs Harimoto Tomokazu JPN 3-0 11-9, 11-8, 11-9 |
| W | China Smash 2026 2026-10-07 | Men's singles Round of 32 | Zhou Qihao CHN vs Xiang Peng CHN 3-2 7-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-5, 13-11 |
| L | China Smash 2026 2026-10-07 | Men's doubles Round of 16 | Chen Junsong / Zhou Qihao CHN vs Manav Thakkar / Manush Shah IND 2-3 5-11, 6-11, 11-2, 11-7, 10-12 |
| W | China Smash 2026 2026-10-06 | Men's doubles Round of 32 | Tom Jarvis / Connor Green ENG vs Chen Junsong / Zhou Qihao CHN 1-3 8-11, 6-11, 14-12, 7-11 |
Source: WTT official results. Updated October 31, 2026. worldtabletennis.com
Frequently asked questions
Who is Zhou Qihao?
A Chinese table tennis player born in Guangzhou in 1997. He plays shakehand and was a world team champion in 2026.
Did Zhou Qihao beat Ma Long?
Yes. He beat Ma Long in the 2017 Chinese national team trials, a result that drew a lot of attention.
Which WTT titles has Zhou Qihao won?
WTT Contender Lagos 2023 and WTT Star Contender Doha 2026.
What is Zhou Qihao's ranking?
In October 2026 he was 13th in the world.