In the aftermath of Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng publicly announcing their withdrawal from international rankings, the Chinese Table Tennis Association, under immense pressure, released a statement expressing respect for the decision of these three Olympic champions—Fan Zhendong, Chen Meng, and Ma Long—to withdraw. At the time, many were puzzled as to why Ma Long chose to exit without issuing a public statement like Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng, instead opting to quietly sign a letter of withdrawal.
The prevailing view at the time was that Ma Long, as the veteran captain of the national table tennis team, might have been concerned about the potential negative impact of a public announcement on the team. Given the intense public reaction and widespread skepticism following Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng's statements, a similar declaration by Ma Long could have exacerbated the situation and increased the pressure even further.
However, recent investigations by resourceful netizens suggest that the matter may not be so straightforward. It has come to light through Qichacha that Ma Long had already invested in a company called Beijing Track Catering Management Co., Ltd. as early as December 2016. He contributed 600,000 yuan, holding a 4.3% stake. Among the shareholders of this company is a person named Wang Jin, who shares the same name as Liu Guoliang's wife. This individual also holds a 4.3% stake with an equivalent investment of 600,000 yuan. Looking at the equity structure, she owns shares in Qian Jian Education Technology, a company established by Liu Guoliang and Wang Nan, making it highly likely that this Wang Jin is indeed Liu Guoliang's wife. "Reverse Direction Ball" also found the same information through Tianyancha.
Interestingly, further examination through Tianyancha reveals the names of national table tennis coach Ma Lin and his wife Zhang Yaqing among the shareholders. Ma Lin invested 276,300 yuan, representing approximately a 2% stake, while Zhang Yaqing invested 600,000 yuan, holding a 4.3% stake. Altogether, the Ma Lin couple invested a total of 876,300 yuan, accounting for a 6.3% stake.
According to Qichacha, Beijing Track Catering Management Co., Ltd. was established in 2014 and is located in Beijing. It is primarily engaged in business services. The company's registered capital is 13.8173 million yuan, which has been fully paid up, and it completed its Series A round in 2016. The company's registered capital stands at 13.8173 million yuan, with Liu Bin serving as the legal representative.
When the Track Hotpot restaurant opened, the Beijing Evening News reported on it. The report stated that it was the first sports-themed restaurant in the city, with big names from the Chinese table tennis team coming to support it. Kong Linghui, Ma Lin, and Ma Long were among those present at "Track Hotpot," where world champion Ma Long revealed the reason behind the table tennis team's fondness for hotpot: "Eating spicy food helps to relax tense emotions. As world champions, the Chinese table tennis team is under great pressure, and we enjoy hotpot as it provides relief and stress reduction." In the report, Ma Long also mentioned that the table tennis team has a tradition of eating hotpot, as sitting together creates a good atmosphere, fostering camaraderie among the players. At times, they could indulge in hotpot three to four times a week.
Netizens have compiled a map of the commercial relationships between Liu Guoliang, Ma Long, Ma Lin, and others, from which it is clear that Ma Long enjoys a close relationship with Liu Guoliang and Ma Lin, having become business partners. Naturally, the national table tennis team places great importance on Ma Long, appointing him as captain and allowing him to participate in multiple Olympics, becoming the most decorated Olympian in Chinese history, thus creating a legendary career.
From this perspective, Ma Long's decision to quietly withdraw without issuing a statement can also be seen as a way to indirectly alleviate pressure on the national table tennis team. After all, the withdrawals of Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng, two major Olympic champions, have already generated significant public scrutiny, and Ma Long would not want to add fuel to the fire.