If 2024 is considered the year of anti-corruption targeting the Chinese football world, then 2025 is likely to become the year of anti-corruption in the Chinese table tennis arena. Following the withdrawal from the world rankings by two Paris Olympic singles champions, Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng, due to their dissatisfaction with WTT's "no participation, no fine" policy, domestic fans have increasingly criticized WTT and the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA). Even official media outlets like CCTV News have come out in support of Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng. As public attention to this matter continues to grow, WTT's financial reports have become a key point of public skepticism. However, the climax of the situation comes from the revelation by well-known journalist He Xiaolong, who claims that companies recently cooperating with WTT and CTTA have been investigated, and it has been learned that officials have fallen. But who exactly is this official? Whether they are from CTTA? It remains unknown. However, this news was quickly confirmed and revealed by another journalist, Du Liyan.
Du Liyan claimed on social media platforms that there is a significant piece of news in the Chinese table tennis world: the current Vice Chairman of Henan Provincial Sports General Association and Chairman of Henan Provincial Table Tennis Association, 62-year-old Wang Zhongqi, has been taken away for investigation due to issues involving criminality and gambling. The entire incident originated from someone reporting Wang Zhongqi to the police, and Henan Province has attached great importance to this matter, establishing two special task forces. More importantly, Wang Zhongqi had previously been summoned multiple times and was once admitted to the ICU due to this incident. Liu Guoliang, as the head of CTTA, also received news of Wang Zhongqi's investigation.
Speaking of Wang Zhongqi, he is undoubtedly a "big shot" in the Chinese table tennis world, and his relationship with Liu Guoliang is very close. First, both are from Henan Province and have a good private relationship due to table tennis. Among them, the WTT World Cup Finals could be held in Xinxiang, Henan, becoming the first city to host the WTT World Cup Finals, which is directly related to Liu Guoliang's strong promotion behind the scenes. Second, Liu Guoliang, as the chairman of the WTT World Table Tennis Corporation Board, personally presented Wang Zhongqi with the "WTT World Table Tennis Corporation Outstanding Contribution Award." Additionally, at the Henan Table Tennis Association Council work conference on December 27, 2024, it was announced that Wang Zhongqi would no longer host any work of the Henan Provincial Table Tennis Association. Combined with Du Liyan's revelation, it is clear that the 62-year-old Wang Zhongqi is currently under investigation.
Let's take a closer look at the "criminality and gambling" issues mentioned by Du Liyan regarding Wang Zhongqi, which are truly alarming! Starting with financial issues, multiple media figures have begun to present evidence questioning WTT's unclear finances. After all, since 2021, WTT's annual income has exceeded tens of millions of dollars, but its financial reports have always remained in a "loss state." Especially in 2022, WTT's revenue was 26,416,100,threetimesmorethanin2021,butitultimatelyincurredalossofnearly3 million. Such financial data being questioned by the public is quite normal.
Next, well-known commentator Yang Yi pointed out in the program "There Must Be A Response To Every Ball" that Liu Guoliang "holds too much power in three positions, easily giving rise to evil laws," which can be described as a heart-wrenching statement, causing netizens paying attention to this matter to hold a more suspicious attitude towards Liu Guoliang. Finally, it is the revelation by well-known media person He Xiaolong that "recently, many companies cooperating with WTT and CTTA have been investigated." The focus of this sentence is not "companies being investigated," but "companies cooperating with WTT and CTTA." As the head of CTTA and WTT board chairman, whether there are any interest associations between these companies and Liu Guoliang has become one of the topics that fans have been keen to discuss in recent days.
Regarding the "black" and "gambling" issues Wang Zhongqi is suspected of, whether they involve Liu Guoliang, the chairman of CTTA, chairman of the WTT board, and first vice-chairman of the International Table Tennis Federation, can only be confirmed through investigation. However, at least from Wang Zhongqi being taken away for investigation, it can be confirmed that the anti-corruption actions targeting the Chinese sports world have already begun in the Chinese table tennis world.
