The decision of 27-year-old Fan Zhendong to withdraw from the world rankings is a seemingly simple action that hides complex factors behind it. Since the world ranking is closely linked to many current major competitions, this behavior essentially means that he has temporarily bid farewell to the international arena, which has aroused widespread attention.
First, let's talk about his reasons for withdrawal, where financial pressure is an aspect that cannot be ignored. The new regulations of WTT stipulate that if an athlete misses a game, they will be fined 5,000,whichisnosmallexpenseforathletes.WecantakealookatWangChuqin′ssituation.Althoughhisbonusincomeisrelativelyhigh,aftergoingthroughlayersoftaxesanddeductionsaccordingtotherelevantregulationsofthenationaltabletennisteam,theactualamountofmoneyhereceivesisnotasmuchasonemightimagine.Insuchcircumstances,thelossofbonusesformissingasinglegamebecomesverysignificant.ForFanZhendong,whoisnotahigh−incometypeofplayer,the5,000 fine is undoubtedly a heavy burden that he simply cannot afford.
However, Fan Zhendong's withdrawal is by no means just about money. This is also his silent protest against the WTT system. In the growth and development process of athletes, a healthy body is like a sturdy tree with deep roots, supporting their efforts on the court. However, the existing tyrannical clauses and event arrangements of WTT are over-consuming the health of the athletes to a certain extent. The events are arranged too densely, leaving the athletes without enough time to rest and adjust, which is very unfavorable for them to maintain good competitive status in the long term. Under such circumstances, Fan Zhendong chose to express his dissatisfaction by withdrawing from the world rankings in this way.
Is there a possibility for him to return to the international arena? In fact, there is a possibility of returning. Liu Guoliang has made it clear that WTT will study new regulations in response to existing problems. For example, increasing bonuses is a substantial incentive for athletes, making the effort and rewards more equal. At the same time, it may set up veteran exemption rights, which is a reasonable and humanized measure for veterans who have made long-term contributions to the table tennis cause. If these new regulations can be introduced as soon as possible, the current penalty and point deduction rules that trouble Fan Zhendong are likely to disappear.
Of course, Fan Zhendong's return is not unconditional. There are two important conditions here. First, the domestic environmental factor is whether the national table tennis team can effectively combat the interference of fan culture. Fan culture sometimes makes the competition environment complicated, and the involvement of too many irrelevant factors will interfere with the normal competition state of athletes. Only by creating a purer competition environment can Fan Zhendong devote himself to the game with peace of mind. The second is the sincerity issue of the national table tennis team. If Fan Zhendong wants to prepare for the Olympics, then he needs sufficient and effective support from the national table tennis team and the Shanghai Sports Bureau where he is located. This support is not only material but also includes the allocation of various resources and other aspects of support. If these needs cannot be met, he will face many difficulties in wanting to return to the court.
Fan Zhendong's decision this time is based on his comprehensive consideration of various factors. Whether it is protecting his own physical health or pursuing a healthy and reasonable event system environment, these are reasonable demands and expectations for him as a professional athlete. Whether he can return to the international arena in the future depends on various factors such as the speed of introduction, content effectiveness, and whether domestic related parties can meet his requirements of the new WTT regulations. It is hoped that with the efforts of all parties, Fan Zhendong can once again show his strength and style on the international stage and add more wonderful moments to the table tennis sport.
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