At the beginning of the new year, the table tennis world witnessed an intriguing "double-faced" event. Wang Manyu and Sun Yingsha, who were fiercely debating over a ball on the court in the morning, were seen smiling and participating in activities together in the afternoon. This scene allowed us to witness the unique charm of professional athletes.
Let's rewind to the morning of the first day of the new year in 2025. During a critical moment in the fifth set of the fourth game in the women's team final, a seemingly ordinary return triggered a ten-minute "debate" on the court.
"Wait, did the ball hit twice?" The audience clearly remembers that the Shenzhen University team members almost simultaneously stood up. As the captain, Sun Yingsha was keenly focused and captured this detail at the first moment.
On the other side, Wang Manyu was not to be outdone and immediately requested a video replay from the referee. This move instantly intensified the atmosphere at the scene. After all, in such a crucial moment, every point could determine victory or defeat.
"You see Sha Sha's expression!" The fans at the scene couldn't help but whisper, "That's what a captain should look like!" Indeed, Sun Yingsha led her teammates towards the referee's stand, serious yet polite, and began communicating with the referee.
Wang Manyu also insisted that her shot was completely in compliance. Two world-class champions thus engaged in a "battle of wits" on the court.
"This doesn't look like opponents, it's like two lawyers in court!" Some fans jokingly commented. Indeed, their professional attitude of arguing based on facts made people cheer for them.
After nearly ten minutes of repeated viewing and discussion, the chief referee finally decided to replay the match. This outcome may not have been satisfactory to both sides, but professional athletes chose to respect and accept it.
"That's the true spirit of sports!" The audience erupted in applause, applauding the professionalism of the two players.
However, what no one expected was that just a few hours later, a series of photos appeared on social media: Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu were participating in an activity together, chatting and laughing as if the morning's "debate" had never happened.
"This change is too fast!" Some netizens expressed confusion. But those who truly understand sports know that this is precisely the most valuable aspect of professional athletes - they are opponents on the court and friends off the court.
In the photos, one is making a heart gesture, the other is winking, showing no signs of the intense debate that took place just hours earlier. Sun Yingsha even posted on social media: "In the new year, let's cheer together with Manyu!" Accompanied by a picture of their bright smiles.
This scene reminds us of the old saying: "True opponents are never each other, but oneself." On the court, they fight for victory without giving an inch; off the court, they can walk shoulder to shoulder without any grudges.
Interestingly, later that day, Wang Manyu shared a selfie with Sun Yingsha on her personal account, jokingly commenting: "This morning's ten-minute debate, neither of us lost!" This humorous attitude made fans exclaim: "Too cute!"
Sun Yingsha was not to be outdone, reposting and commenting: "Next time, let's go for twenty minutes!" Their interaction sparked a heated discussion among netizens: "Is this the friendship of world champions? It's so sweet!"
More touching was when asked about the controversial ball during the activity, both of them said in unison: "That was the match, this is life. Professional matters should be treated professionally." This clear sense of boundaries is precisely what makes them world champions.
Some netizens summarized: "Fighting fiercely in the morning, laughing wildly in the afternoon, this is the true professional athlete!" Indeed, being able to maintain rationality in fierce competition and friendship outside of competition is a precious quality that everyone should learn.
On this first day of the new year, Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu showed us what "professionalism" means in their own way. They demonstrated their best state in both competitive and non-competitive settings.
Even more exciting is that both of them revealed their New Year's wishes on social media. Sun Yingsha said she wants to "create more miracles in the new year," while Wang Manyu expressed her desire to "work with Sha Sha to create further glory for the national table tennis team." Upon seeing such declarations, fans expressed: "With you here, there's the greatest expectation!"
This story tells us that true professionalism is not only reflected in technical skills but also in the attitude towards competitions and life. Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu proved with their actions that the charm of competitive sports lies not only in the contest of victories and defeats but also in mutual respect and understanding.
And this is probably the most moving aspect of sports - growing in competition and progressing in friendship. We look forward to seeing more such wonderful stories unfold in the new year and witnessing more of this precious sportsmanship.
Let's all look forward to the exciting stories that this pair of "joyful rivals" will bring us on the court in 2025. After all, in this world where competition and friendship coexist, they have already interpreted what true professional spirit means in their own way.