Liu Guoliang: Table Tennis, Grand Slams & Net Worth
Do you watch table tennis? If you do, then you probably know about Liu Guoliang, a world-famous table tennis player from China.
Further, Guoliang has won various major world tournaments, including the World Championships, the World Cup, and the Olympic Games.
In addition, he is only the second person in history to win all three major titles: Olympic Gold, World Cup, and World Championships.
Finally, many people see Liu Guoliang as one of the best players and coaches of all time.
So, if you want to know more about this phenomenal table tennis player, continue reading this article.
Quick Facts
Here are some fascinating quick facts about Liu Guoliang:
| Full Name | Liu Guoliang |
| Nick Name | Legend Liu |
| Name in Chinese | 劉國梁 |
| Birth Date | January 10, 1976 |
| Birth Place | Xinxiang, Henan, China |
| Nationality | Chinese |
| Religion | Not Known |
| Zodiac Sign | Capricorn |
| Hobbies | Not Available |
| School | Shanghai Jiao Tong University |
| Father’s Name | Liu Zhansheng |
| Mother’s Name | Wen Yuxiang |
| Sibling (s) | One Older Brother |
| Sibling Name (s) | Liu Guodong |
| Age | 48 years old |
| Height | 5 feet 5 inches |
| Reach | Not Available |
| Weight | Not Available |
| Eye Color | Not Available |
| Hair Color | Not Available |
| Profession | Professional Table Tennis Player |
| Country | China |
| Sport | Table Tennis |
| Association | Chinese Table Tennis Association |
| Career Wins | 2 Wins in the 1996 Summer Olympics and the 2000 Summer Olympics |
| Career Debut | 1996 Atlanta Games |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Wang Jin |
| Children | Two Twin Daughters |
| Net Worth | $1 Million – $5 Million |
| Social Media | Not Available |
| Tennis Merch | Balls, Racquets, Bag |
| Last Update | April, 2024 |
Liu Guoliang: Family, Education, and Early Life
On January 10, 1976, he was born in Xinxiang, Henan, China, Liu Guoliang, to a loving set of parents who loved and supported him.
Further, the name of his mother is Wen Xiangyu. Guoliang’s father’s name is Liu Zhansheng, a renowned former table tennis player of China.
In addition, Liu Zhanseng worked at the Xinxiang Sports Commission up until 2004.
Later Liu was offered a coaching position in the provincial team of China.
Talking about Liu’s siblings, he has one older brother, Liu Guodong, three years older than him.
Further, Liu Guodong is also a table tennis player. He served as the head coach of Indonesia’s national table tennis team.
Education
Not much is known about Liu Guoliang’s early education life. But, he did graduate high school and went to college.
Further, Liu went to Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
Early Life
Guoliang Liu was just 15 years old when he was called up to the Chinese national team for the first time.
Further, at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, he made his Olympic debut, reaching the final against compatriot Tao Wang.
Guoliang won gold in five sets, even though the match was competitive throughout.
Besides, he also won the doubles event with Lin Lu, giving him two gold medals at the Olympics.
Later, Guoliang Liu returned to the Sydney Games to defend his championships four years later.
Then, in the singles semi-final, however, he was mercilessly crushed and had to settle for bronze.
Finally, he and his compatriot Linghui Kong won silver in the doubles event.
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Liu Guoliang: Age, Height, and Weight
Chinese table tennis sensation Liu Guoliang was born on January 10, 1976, so he is 48 years old.
Liu has been a Capricorn man since he was born on January 10.
Further, Capricorn men are ambitious, loyal, realistic, and disciplined; conversely, they are skeptical, pessimistic, and demanding.
Table tennis players are not that tall, and Liu Guoliang seems to prove that fact.
Furthermore, Liu is only 5 feet and 5 inches or 1.68 m. But, not much information about his weight is available.
However, Liu Guoliang is considered extremely smart, sensible, and intelligent.
Liu Guoliang: Career
The Chinese table tennis superstar Liu Guoliang has had quite a career.
Beginning
When he was only 15 years old, Liu started table tennis when he was selected for the Chinese national team.
Then, Guoliang made his first international debut at the 1996 Summer Olympics held in Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.
Here, he won a gold medal under the singles men category when he played against Tao Wang.
In addition, the table tennis player also won another gold medal when he played double with Kong Linghui under the men’s category.
Then, in 1997 and 1999, Liu Guoliang won the World Doubles Championships with Kong Linghui.
In addition, he won the World Singles Championships in Eindhoven in 1999.
Besides, Liu was a member of the Chinese national teams that won the World Table Tennis Championships in 1995 and 1997.
In addition, the player also won the ITTF Table Tennis World Cup in 1996.
Liu also won the 2000 Summer Olympics held in Sydney, Australia, from 13 September to 1 October.
Here, he won a bronze medal under the singles men category.
Liu managed to win a silver medal under the doubles men category when he played with Kong Linghui.
Moreover, he has won world titles in singles (1999), doubles (1997, 1999), mixed doubles (1997), and team sports (1995, 1997, 2001).
Retirement
Liu Guoliang was only 27 years old when he retired.
He retired after the 2001 season and was named head coach of China’s National Men’s Team.
Coach of the Chinese National Team
Guoliang is the most successful coach in the history of the Chinese Men’s National Table Tennis Team.
Further, with a team gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics and medal sweeps by Ma Lin, Wang Hao, and Wang Liqin, Liu is remarkable as a coach.
In addition, at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Zhang Jike and Wang Hao won gold and silver medals in the men’s singles events, respectively.
Also, at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Ma Long and Zhang Jike won gold and silver in the men’s singles events, respectively.
Since Liu took over as head coach in 2001, the Chinese team has won every men’s singles team championship at the World Table Tennis Championships.
Presidency
Liu was elected president of the Chinese Table Tennis Association on December 1, 2018, succeeding Cai Zhenhua.
Further, Cai Zhenhua is a former professional table tennis player from China.
In addition, he serves as Vice Chairman and Secretary of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions Secretariat.
Recent Years
Unlike previous Olympic games, Liu stated that he did not wish to pressure Chinese athletes and coaches to win every gold medal at the Tokyo Games.
Liu Guoliang: Wins, Losses, and Draws
A man with incredible playing techniques and intelligence Liu Guoliang is considered one of this generation’s best table tennis players.
In addition, Liu Guoliang has two gold medals. Also, he has one silver medal and one bronze medal.
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Liu Guoliang: Titles as a Coach
A successful national team coach Liu Guoliang has helped his team win several medals for their country, China.
In the 2008 Summer Olympics, the national team of China was able to win gold medals under the singles men and team category.
Similarly, in the 2012 Summer Olympics, the team won gold medals and a silver in the team and singles men category.
At the 2016 Summer Olympics, the Chinese team won a bronze medal, a gold medal, and a silver medal in the singles men.
Liu Guoliang: Equipment
Guoliang prefers to play with a penholder grip and a short pimple-out rubber.
Further, he is credited with inventing the backhand with reverse topspin.
The Stiga Clipper is his blade, the Stiga Clipper is his forehand rubber, and the Stiga Mendo Energy is his reverse backhand rubber.
During his prime (1996–1999), Liu used TSP Spinpips on his forehand and Mark V on his backhand, but he still used the Stiga Clipper blade.
In addition, Spinpip rubbers were banned in late 2000, and Spinpip Md was banned the following year.
The rubber was extremely spinny and surprising both times due to the aspect ratio and the pip structure and layout, considered unduly advantageous.
As a result, it’s unknown whether Liu ever competed with Stiga rubbers.
Liu Guoliang: Feud with Family
Father
A man from a table tennis family, Liu Guoliang, has had quite some indifference with his family members.
Further, Liu disapproved when his father, Liu Zhansheng, was chosen to be the provincial coach of Chinese table tennis.
Also, he protested against Zhanseng when he opened a table tennis school and was elected its principal.
In addition, Guoliang stated that it would create biases if his father and he both worked as coaches.
As a result, Zhangsen retired and went away to Xiamen, and the father-son duo did not speak with each other.
Zhangsen died in January 2011 due to cerebral hemorrhage.
Older Brother
Guoliang has an older brother three years older than him, and his name is Liu Guodong.
Further, Guodong was supposed to be the national coach of the Chinese table tennis team.
However, since he did not possess the same intellect and skills as his younger brother, Liu Guoliang, he became Singapore’s national team coach.
But, Singapore’s female table tennis team dominated in the Beijing Olympics.
When his term expired in 2009, he returned to China and hoped to become the national team’s coach again.
However, Liu Guoliang disapproved of his brother becoming the national team’s coach.
And in 2014, Liu Guoliang became the coach. Hence, this created tension between the two brothers.
Liu Guoliang: Wife and Children
Liu Guoliang is married to his wife, Wang Jin.
Further, they fell in love when they were only 16 years old and have been together for more than 28years.
In addition, this wonderful couple has two twin daughters together. His eldest daughter’s name is Liu Yujie, a golf player.
Moreover, she is already considered a champion golf player. She is also known as wins. But his youngest daughter is a table tennis player.
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Liu Guoliang: Net Worth
The Chinese table tennis player Liu Guoliang’s net worth is about $1 Million – $5 Million.
He collected his net worth by working as a professional table tennis player, becoming a coach, and finally the President of the Chinese national team.
FAQs
What is the playing style of Liu Guoliang?
The playing style of the legendary Liu Guoliang is the Penhold grip.
Further, the Penhold grip is a technique for holding a tennis racket with the head facing down and grasped like a pen or pencil.
In addition, Penhold players typically use only the forehand side of the paddle and do not use a rubber sheet on the backhand side.
Finally, Penhold blades have a shorter handle than Shakehand blades.
What was the ranking of Liu Guoliang?
Always on the top during his prime time, Liu Guoliang is a retired Chinese table tennis player.
Further, his world ranking was number 1 from January 2001 to July 2003.
