In the world of Chinese table tennis, Xu Xin has always been known for his professionalism and team spirit. Recently, he has become a focus of public attention due to two incidents - defending his teammate Fan Zhendong and engaging in a verbal exchange with the 68-year-old former national table tennis world champion Guo Yuehua. These events not only demonstrate Xu Xin's professional qualities as an athlete but also reveal some subtle relationships within the sports circle.
At the beginning of 2025, when Fan Zhendong announced his withdrawal from the world rankings, media attention on the Olympic champion surged. During a post-match interview, journalists bombarded Fan Zhendong with questions while ignoring other team members. Faced with such intense and sharp inquiries, Fan Zhendong appeared somewhat at a loss. At this moment, Xu Xin, as a teammate, stepped forward to cleverly shift the topic, suggesting that reporters pay attention to Zhou Kai, who had also performed well but was less frequently mentioned.
This approach reflects Xu Xin's support and understanding for his teammates. As an experienced veteran, he knows that continuous questioning can bring additional pressure to young players. Therefore, in the live broadcast room, Xu Xin explained, "When interviewing, one question after another has quite an impact on athletes." He realized that at that time, Xiao Pang (Fan Zhendong) did not want to continue answering those tricky questions, so he chose to control the rhythm appropriately, allowing the other party to relax a bit.
However, Xu Xin's goodwill did not receive universal recognition. Especially during a handshake incident at an award ceremony, which sparked considerable controversy. That evening, a certain leader accidentally skipped over Xu Xin while shaking hands with the athletes and only came back to make up for it after being reminded by others. In response, Xu Xin himself showed great generosity, believing that it was just because the other party was too nervous. However, the former national table tennis world champion Guo Yuehua had a different perspective.
Guo Yuehua pointed out that the reason why Xu Xin was overlooked might be because he was not active enough in some competitions, especially in doubles events where he failed to fully exert his leading role and communication with his partner was not sufficient. These criticisms apparently touched Xu Xin's sensitive nerves, prompting him to directly respond on social media, saying, "You are a public figure and a world champion, pointing out my shortcomings for improvement or encouragement, but spreading rumors is not good."
These words reflect Xu Xin's attitude towards his career - to accept reasonable criticism while adhering to the truth. Despite the series of controversies surrounding Xu Xin, he maintained a calm demeanor and did not lose direction. In fact, this experience became an opportunity for him to reflect on his own behavior. Through this turmoil, we can see that athletes not only need superb technical skills but also require excellent psychological quality and teamwork capabilities.
In a highly competitive environment, any small detail can be magnified, affecting overall performance. It is worth noting that Guo Yuehua mentioned his past successful partnership experiences in his comments, emphasizing the importance of mutual support. In contrast, he believed that Xu Xin should improve in this aspect. Although these words were harsh, they also highlighted an important truth: excellent athletes must not only do what ordinary people can do but also display extraordinary qualities in critical moments.
Ultimately, whether facing external pressure or internal challenges, Xu Xin chose to face them head-on. He expressed his intention to continue working hard to improve his abilities in all aspects and strive for better results in future competitions. At the same time, he also hopes that this incident will lead people to pay more attention to the games themselves rather than off-court gossip, fostering a healthy and harmonious sports environment.
In summary, Xu Xin's performance in these two incidents not only shows his care for his teammates but also reflects his deep thinking about professional ethics and personal development. Regardless of how the future unfolds, we look forward to seeing more outstanding athletes like Xu Xin, who possess both strength and warmth, appear on the court.