In the world of table tennis in 2024, it is undoubtedly Wang Chuqin's year. As the world's top-ranked player, he has experienced countless attention and expectations throughout the year.
On the stage of the Paris Olympics, although Wang Chuqin failed to achieve ideal results in the singles event, he won the mixed doubles gold medal with his partner Sun Yingsha and remained undefeated in the team event, which undoubtedly proved his strength.
However, the Olympic experience was not smooth sailing. Wang Chuqin unexpectedly stopped at the round of 32 in the singles competition, a result that disappointed many fans.
Facing external doubts, Zhang Jike first criticized, believing that "the world's number one can only stop at 32, right? As the top seed, it shouldn't be like this."
Over time, Zhang Jike's attitude has changed significantly. When talking about Wang Chuqin's performance at the Olympics, he not only expressed understanding and support for the younger generation of players but also shared similar challenges he had faced using his own experiences as an example.
Zhang Jike mentioned, "Wang Chuqin also had a tough time, losing in singles but not losing a single match in mixed doubles and team events, which is not something just anyone can do."
He also recalled his experience at the 2016 Rio Olympics and teammate Wang Hao's situation at the 2012 London Olympics, emphasizing that even personal defeats could lead to national honors.
This change in attitude is not only recognition of Wang Chuqin as an individual but also reflects the older generation of athletes' expectations and support for the growth of their successors.
After retiring, Zhang Jike did not stay away from the public eye but instead regained the public's attention through a series of positive actions.
Recently, he announced the end of his 15-year partnership with Japanese brand Butterfly and became the global spokesperson for German table tennis equipment brand Donic.
This move marks an important turning point in Zhang Jike's career and also shows his confidence in the future.
It is revealed that the endorsement fee for this cooperation is about 4 to 5 million yuan RMB, which is slightly lower than before but still reflects Zhang Jike's strong commercial value.
Donic chose Zhang Jike as its spokesperson to strengthen its influence in the Chinese market, which will undoubtedly bring more development opportunities for both sides.
In addition to brand endorsements, Zhang Jike also opened a personal live broadcast room on social media platforms to teach table tennis skills.
His courses are priced at 9800 yuan per month or 199 yuan per class, attracting a large number of fans to participate.
It is reported that during a three-hour live broadcast, more than 1.18 million people watched, with sales reaching between 100,000 and 250,000 yuan.
These figures reflect Zhang Jike's unique charm as a former world champion and his potential in the field of sports education.
More importantly, through this method, Zhang Jike can continue to spread table tennis culture and cultivate more young people who love this sport.
The upcoming second stage of the Table Tennis Super League will be a critical moment to test Wang Chuqin's condition.
As the world's number one, he bears the responsibility of leading the team to strive for better results.
Fans hope to see a more mature Wang Chuqin through this event, responding to everyone's expectations with practical actions.
At the same time, Zhang Jike is also supporting this young successor in his way.
Whether through public encouragement or private guidance, both are working hard to contribute to the development of China's table tennis cause.
The interaction between Zhang Jike and Wang Chuqin is not only a dialogue between two top athletes but also symbolizes the inheritance and development of the spirit of Chinese table tennis.
The former, with rich experience and profound heritage, helps the latter better cope with various challenges on the professional road;
The latter, with youthful vitality and infinite possibilities, continues to write a new chapter in Chinese table tennis.
In this process, we have witnessed the charm of competitive sports - it is not only about winning and losing but also about dreams, perseverance, and surpassing oneself.