Translation of the article content into English:
On the stage of sports competition, every change in the rankings stirs the hearts of countless fans. However, the recent experiences of national table tennis stars Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng have caused a huge stir.
On December 31st, Beijing time, when the WTT World Table Tennis Federation announced the latest rankings, a shocking fact was presented to everyone - not only were Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng removed from the ranking list, but even their profile pictures on the official website were quietly deleted.
This sudden move was like a blockbuster bomb, instantly sparking widespread attention and discussion in the table tennis world.
Looking back at the entire incident, since Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng announced their withdrawal from the world rankings, they have been at the forefront of public opinion.
Previously, amidst great controversy, the 53rd week world rankings published by WTT, which was also the last issue of the 2024 rankings, became the catalyst for this turmoil.
In this ranking, the names of Ma Long, Fan Zhendong, and Chen Meng disappeared without a trace, as if they had never left their mark on this stage.
The men's singles landscape has undergone significant changes due to their departure.
Once, Chinese national table tennis occupied important seats in the top five positions in the world, with many excellent players winning honor and dignity for the country through their outstanding abilities and stable performances.
However, now, in the latest rankings, only two Chinese players, Wang Chuqin and Lin Shidong, remain in the top five, appearing somewhat lonely among many foreign competitors.
Names of foreign players such as Tomokazu Harimoto, Lubren, and Hugo Calderano follow closely behind, undoubtedly sounding the alarm for the future development of Chinese men's singles.
The situation for the women's team is equally grim. In the past, the "five golden flowers" of Chinese women's table tennis often monopolized the top five positions, demonstrating strong dominance and team advantages.
But after this incident, the top five positions are no longer exclusively held by the Chinese team; although the top four are still Chinese players, they are closely followed by four Japanese players, an unprecedented situation that also fills people with concern about the future of Chinese women's table tennis.
However, what is even more unacceptable to fans is that WTT not only removed Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng's names from the rankings but also quickly deleted their profile pictures.
This behavior, in the eyes of many, is an extreme disrespect to the two Olympic champions.
Chen Meng and Fan Zhendong, as outstanding representatives of the Chinese table tennis team, fought hard on the court, winning countless honors and medals for the country.
Their efforts and dedication are evident and worthy of respect and praise. But now, simply because of the decision to withdraw from the world rankings, they have suffered such treatment, which is truly disheartening.
Judging from the reactions of the international table tennis community, many foreign players have expressed support for Fan Zhendong.
French players Lubren brothers and Simon Gauzy, African player Aruna, American player Kanak, and other foreign association players have all come out to support Fan Zhendong's remarks on withdrawing from the rankings.
They believe that WTT's approach in this matter is too harsh and inhumane.
In their view, athletes have the right to make reasonable choices based on their own circumstances and should not be subjected to such unfair treatment.
In this incident, we can't help but wonder what the purpose of WTT's actions is?
Is it to maintain the seriousness of the so-called ranking rules, or is there something else going on?
Regardless, such behavior undoubtedly hurts the feelings of the athletes and has a certain impact on the morale of the Chinese table tennis team.
For the Chinese table tennis team, they now face severe challenges and choices.
On the one hand, they need to engage in active communication and negotiation with WTT to strive for more reasonable treatment and rights for athletes like Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng.
On the other hand, they must also consider how to better cope with various rule changes and challenges in future development to ensure China's leading position in international competitions.
The removal of Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng is not just a personal experience for the two athletes; it is an event that requires deep reflection from the entire Chinese table tennis team and even the international table tennis community.
We look forward to seeing a more fair, reasonable, and humanized sports competition environment in the future, where every athlete can pursue their dreams and showcase their talents in an atmosphere of respect and care.