At 11:11 am Beijing time on December 27th, Olympic table tennis champion Fan Zhendong announced his decision to withdraw from the world rankings via Weibo, stating that he will not retire. In the latest issue of the world rankings released by the International Table Tennis Federation this week, Fan Zhendong ranked sixth, with five out of eight valid points assigned as zero.
Choosing to announce his withdrawal from the world rankings at 11:11 am, Fan Zhendong's deep affection for table tennis is evident in his post. Table tennis is a sport with an 11-point system, reflecting Fan Zhendong's love for the sport. We look forward to seeing Fan Zhendong at the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area National Games and on various other competitive stages.
Fan Zhendong mentioned in his post that due to the significant psychological toll from the Paris cycle, aside from confirming participation in the next National Games, there are no specific plans for other competitions. Recently, the WTT introduced a new rule imposing fines for non-participation, which he finds unbearable but still respects the international organization, hence choosing to withdraw from the world rankings.
As early as May, Fan Zhendong suggested it might be his last Olympics. Although he stated he would not retire, he has not competed internationally, leaving many fans feeling regretful. At only 27 years old and in peak condition, he could have continued playing for several more years.
During the Paris cycle, Fan Zhendong faced considerable pressure, particularly in the Houston World Championships and the Paris Olympics, where he wanted to face opponents from other associations in the finals. Especially after Wang Chuqin's elimination in the Paris Olympics, Fan Zhendong bore immense pressure, leading to significant mental exhaustion.
Yesterday, it was announced that Fan Zhendong will also be absent from the Singapore Grand Slam in January next year, meaning he will inevitably miss this year's World Championships. Due to the new regulations issued by the WTT, which increased the severity of penalties, Fan Zhendong had no choice but to withdraw from the world rankings, having been assigned zero points previously.
Many netizens expressed dissatisfaction, claiming that the WTT's "ranking" system is overly commercialized, coercing athletes to participate in WTT events to maximize commercial gains. However, they overlook the need for athletes to adjust and rest, as constantly being on the move is truly unbearable for them.
How can you push an athlete who has dedicated himself to national glory for over a decade without respite to such a point? Is this reasonable? Is there anyone to oversee the WTT's tyrannical clauses?
The WTT not only forcibly assigns zero points to non-participants but also imposes fines. Fan Zhendong had to withdraw from the world rankings to protect his ranking, so what kind of tyrannical organization is the WTT?
It's unacceptable to treat people like this. When Xiao Pang defended the national and ethnic honor all by himself, he never expected things to turn out this way. The WTT schedule is too dense; since the Olympics ended, the national table tennis team hasn't stopped, and even on their days off, they have to attend events, leaving them with no time to catch their breath.
Of course, it must be said that what suits oneself is best. We hope that every athlete can follow their own path in their own way.
To maintain long-term competitive form, Fan Zhendong may need to make tremendous efforts in training and competition. This effort is not only physical but also psychological. Withdrawing from the world rankings may be a choice he made after weighing the pros and cons.