On January 6th, Beijing time, the WTT Star Challenge Doha station opened, with no Chinese team players participating in the first day's qualifying matches, leaving the national table tennis team without any matches on the first day. What netizens and fans are most concerned about is still the self-examination of ITTF and WTT as well as the financial report of WTT. This article introduces the former chairman Thomas Weikert, current chairman Petra Sorling, ITTF Chief Executive Officer Steve Danton, and the current power structure of ITTF to interpret the power structure of the upper management of the International Table Tennis Federation. Firstly, it should be noted that almost all international organizations in the world are currently controlled by Europeans and Americans. As an international sports organization, the International Table Tennis Federation can be likened to "occupying a mountain as a king" in an inappropriate metaphor. Theoretically, the International Olympic Committee is the superior organization of the International Table Tennis Federation, but the IOC cannot carry out substantive supervision over the International Table Tennis Federation. Legally speaking, the Court of Arbitration for Sport is an institution that constrains almost all international sports organizations, but that is only symbolic. From the perspective of financial situation and organizational management, the International Table Tennis Federation has high autonomy. Who can become the president of the International Table Tennis Federation? There have been eight presidents of the International Table Tennis Federation so far, only Ichiyo Oikawa and Xu Yisheng were former world-class players, and Sharara had worked as a coach for the Canadian team early…

The situation escalates as "Little Fatty" returns to CCTV1, WTT regrets its actions, and the ITTF's attempt at deception is exposed The 27-year-old Fan Zhendong, a player of great significance in the international table tennis arena, has chosen to confront WTT head-on, a decision that has undoubtedly caused a stir in the table tennis world. Following this, the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) quickly responded by deciding to form a five-person group to investigate WTT's rules and regulations. However, regardless of the investigation's outcome, the fact that Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng have withdrawn from the international arena has become a fait accompli. While Chen Meng and Ma Long are nearing the end of their careers, making their decisions somewhat understandable, Fan Zhendong's situation is markedly different, as he has been confirmed to have been forced to withdraw. He once openly stated his hope to have a long career like veteran player Timo Boll, becoming a legendary athlete. However, reality is so cruel that Fan Zhendong ultimately could not persevere. Under the immense pressure of the Olympics, he was able to rally and achieve a great comeback. Facing WTT's unreasonable rules, he chose not to endure any longer, which is precisely what everyone admires about him; he became the first person to dare to stand up against WTT! In an interview, Fan Zhendong said, "If we look at it from a long-term perspective, I hope to have a very long career, like Boll. Only with a long time is it possible to become a legend. If it's too short, it…

Recently, the table tennis world has been in an uproar! Big names like Fan Zhendong, Ma Long, and Chen Meng, who are hot favorites for the grand slam titles, have collectively decided to give up their world rankings due to new regulations from the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). This unprecedented move in the international table tennis arena has left many fans both regretful and puzzled: why are these top athletes willing to relinquish their hard-earned world rankings? Is this a painful transition from rule "revolution," or is it a complete disaster? With the introduction of the new rules and the protests from top athletes, the table tennis world seems to be facing a storm. In fact, these top athletes are busy dropping their rankings not because their competitive form has declined, but because of the "high load" imposed by the new rules. The ITTF requires players to participate in more matches throughout the year; otherwise, they will face fines or even harsher penalties. At first glance, this seems somewhat akin to a "996" schedule, which the players' bodies cannot endure! For Fan Zhendong, this "withdrawal from ranking" was also a helpless move, but it did not affect his outstanding performance on the court. At the Paris Olympics, Fan Zhendong sealed his legend with a series of remarkable performances. He first defeated Japanese star Tomokazu Harimoto with lightning speed and then overcame Swedish rising star Truls Moregard in the final, breaking through layers of obstacles to successfully win the Olympic singles championship. Moreover, this victory made him a historic figure…

In the world of Chinese table tennis, Xu Xin has always been known for his professionalism and team spirit. Recently, he has become a focus of public attention due to two incidents - defending his teammate Fan Zhendong and engaging in a verbal exchange with the 68-year-old former national table tennis world champion Guo Yuehua. These events not only demonstrate Xu Xin's professional qualities as an athlete but also reveal some subtle relationships within the sports circle. At the beginning of 2025, when Fan Zhendong announced his withdrawal from the world rankings, media attention on the Olympic champion surged. During a post-match interview, journalists bombarded Fan Zhendong with questions while ignoring other team members. Faced with such intense and sharp inquiries, Fan Zhendong appeared somewhat at a loss. At this moment, Xu Xin, as a teammate, stepped forward to cleverly shift the topic, suggesting that reporters pay attention to Zhou Kai, who had also performed well but was less frequently mentioned. This approach reflects Xu Xin's support and understanding for his teammates. As an experienced veteran, he knows that continuous questioning can bring additional pressure to young players. Therefore, in the live broadcast room, Xu Xin explained, "When interviewing, one question after another has quite an impact on athletes." He realized that at that time, Xiao Pang (Fan Zhendong) did not want to continue answering those tricky questions, so he chose to control the rhythm appropriately, allowing the other party to relax a bit. However, Xu Xin's goodwill did not receive universal recognition. Especially during a handshake incident at an…

In the arena of table tennis, where tradition meets modernity and passion intertwines with wisdom, every change in rules can spark extensive discussions and profound impacts. Recently, a new regulation introduced by WTT (World Table Tennis), the commercial entity under the International Table Tennis Federation, has caused ripples akin to a stone thrown into a lake, stirring not only the nerves of athletes but also prompting deep reflections from all sectors of society on athlete rights, sportsmanship, and the commercialization of events. I. The Outbreak of Controversy: The Introduction of New Rules and Athlete Protests At the heart of the WTT's new regulations is the requirement that athletes must participate in its commercial events or face hefty fines, with no exceptions except for physical reasons. This stipulation feels like a tight-fitting curse to many athletes, causing them to feel restrained and unfairly treated. Two top Chinese national team players, Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng, as pioneers of the protest, resolutely chose to withdraw from the world rankings to express their dissatisfaction and resistance to the new rules. Their actions are not only a defense of their personal rights but also a courageous voice against the current state of table tennis. II. The Escalation of Events: Multiple Responses and Heightened Controversy As athlete protests escalated, WTT quickly responded, but its explanations failed to quell public outrage. An in-depth investigation by CCTV News further exposed various issues in WTT's commercial operations, such as the huge gap between ticket revenue and prize money, and the indifference towards athlete injuries. The plight of Nigerian…

Tragic News! National Table Tennis Team member Lin Gaoyuan posted on social media, revealing that his father passed away due to illness. Upon hearing this news, it was quite unexpected. After all, Lin Gaoyuan's father was not very old, so how could he have left us? Lin Gaoyuan posted a tribute to his father on social media. From the article Lin Gaoyuan posted, it can be seen that his father passed away due to illness. A few days ago, Lin Gaoyuan participated in the men's team semi-finals of the Ping Super League. He represented Shantou Mingrun and played two matches. However, Shantou Mingrun lost to Huangshi Base and missed out on the finals. Despite this, he was awarded the Men's Doubles MVP. Originally, on the day of the finals, he was supposed to go on stage to receive the award, but due to family matters, he returned early. His teammate Xu Haidong accepted the award on his behalf. It was unexpected that Lin Gaoyuan's family would experience such a major misfortune. According to Lin Gaoyuan, his father was also a table tennis player who loved playing table tennis since childhood. However, due to family circumstances, his father was unable to continue pursuing table tennis. In his father's social media introduction, he referred to himself as Lin Gaoyuan's启蒙教练 (enlightenment coach). Lin's father previously worked as a physical education teacher and table tennis coach at an elementary school. After Lin Gaoyuan was born, his father cultivated his interest in table tennis from a young age and even opened a ballroom, hoping for…

Recently, our table tennis national treasure Fan Zhendong was "played" by the Beijing Daily due to the leak of his identity information. This incident really makes people feel mixed emotions. Back in the day, Fan Zhendong shed sweat on the court and brought glory to the country, with a heroic and refreshing appearance that is still vivid in our minds. Who would have thought that such an Olympic champion with outstanding achievements would suffer the embarrassment of having his identity information leaked? What's even more infuriating is that the Beijing Daily, as an official media outlet, not only failed to handle this matter seriously but instead played word games, jokingly asking "How do you say 'apology' in English?" followed by "So what?" This is like pouring salt on the hearts of fans! As for the reporter from the Beijing Daily, is he psychologically twisted or simply jealous of Fan Zhendong? We don't know for sure. But one thing is certain: such behavior is a violation of journalistic ethics and disrespectful to Fan Zhendong. After all, Fan Zhendong is the pride of our table tennis world; each of his victories is condensed with countless sweat and tears. Now, to be mocked like this, how can it not make people feel cold? Netizens are also discussing this issue, some accusing the Beijing Daily reporter of low quality, while others suspect that this reporter is a fan of the top national table tennis player and is willing to mock Fan Zhendong to protect their idol. Some netizens even dug up old accounts, saying…

It seems that everyone has noticed a change in the public perception of Liu Guoliang since the "Three Musketeers" stepped down from the stage. His reputation, once characterized by the phrase "anyone can do it," has shifted to a more cautious and uncertain stance. One might conclude that Liu Guoliang's actual coaching and management abilities are lower than his own self-perception. Perhaps he was just lucky to have encountered the "Three Musketeers" during a period of great fortune for the national table tennis team, leading him to believe that the team was invincible and that anyone could become a world champion. However, reality has proven otherwise, especially after Fan Zhendong announced his withdrawal from the WTT world rankings, which significantly increased the public pressure on Liu Guoliang. Take, for example, the opening ceremony of the Ping Pong Super League Finals on December 30, 2024. When the host introduced Liu Guoliang, there were noticeable boos from the audience. Moreover, the live broadcast chat was filled with calls for Liu Guoliang to step down and be investigated. So, how did Liu Guoliang and the national table tennis team end up in their current state in just a few short years? It all started with the men's singles round of 16 at the Paris Olympics. For many, July 31, 2024, is a memorable day. It not only exposed Liu Guoliang's cognitive errors but also served as a wake-up call to those who care about table tennis, revealing that the future of the national team is not as smooth sailing as previously thought. Let's…

In mid-November Beijing time, the WTT Fukuoka Finals concluded the semi-finals. The world number two in men's singles, Lin Shidong, lost to Tomokazu and failed to reach the final. In women's singles, Wang Manyu defeated the European champion, achieving a grand assembly in the final. Lin Shidong is a fierce player for the national table tennis team. At the age of 19, he has already become a Grand Slam winner. This finals saw him in great form, but unfortunately, in the semi-final match against Tomokazu, he was unable to maintain his momentum and secure victory. Despite leading 2-0 and 3-2 in sets, he failed to seize the opportunities, eventually being caught up by Tomokazu and losing in the decisive set. The collapse of the world number two meant that the national table tennis men's singles could not meet in the final. In this finals, three out of the top four women's singles spots were occupied by national table tennis players. The match between Wang Manyu and Szocs was particularly important as securing victory would allow the national team to meet in the final. The result was as hoped, with Wang Manyu fighting hard through seven sets to defeat her opponent 4-3 and advance to the final. However, the process was not easy, as Szocs posed a significant threat, living up to her reputation as a player who had previously defeated Olympic champion Chen Meng. The difficulty of the match can be seen from the score. Wang Manyu took the initiative first, scoring three consecutive victories to lead 3-0. It seemed…

Fan Zhendong's withdrawal from the WTT has caused a stir among fans. It is understandable since he is a grand slam player in table tennis, and everyone is accustomed to seeing him compete fiercely on the international stage. However, this withdrawal is not an ordinary withdrawal, as his "commercial value" seems to be more eye-catching than the matches themselves. We must talk about his collaboration with Major League Baseball (MLB). MLB is no small player; it is one of the four major sports leagues in the United States, ranking just below the NFL (National Football League), and its status in the global sports circle cannot be ignored. Baseball does not have as large an audience in Asia as football or basketball, but MLB is targeting this "blue ocean" market, especially countries and regions like China, Japan, and South Korea. Look at this: MLB actually approached Fan Zhendong, which is no simple matter. Although he is a table tennis player, his influence in the Chinese market is not insignificant. After becoming the Asian ambassador for MLB, Fan Zhendong not only received exorbitant endorsement fees, but even the Los Angeles Tourism Bureau took notice of him, inviting him to watch a Los Angeles Dodgers game. This is truly a demonstration of "superstar effect," as the Los Angeles Dodgers are six-time World Series champions and are the top presence in MLB! Even if Fan Zhendong appears at such events only as a spectator, it makes people feel that he has become a "celebrity outside the circle" rather than just a top player in…