Recently, the results of the China Youth May Fourth Medal were announced, with Fan Zhendong, Sun Yingsha, and Wang Manyu successfully elected. Everyone felt that these athletes deserved it. However, the failure of Wang Chuqin and Chen Meng to be selected was somewhat unexpected. As a result, some people began to question the selection criteria, even speculating whether there were "hidden rules" involved. Regardless, this outcome also made us wonder: Is the selection really only based on achievements? Or are there other considerations?
Firstly, the election of Fan Zhendong, Sun Yingsha, and Wang Manyu is almost uncontroversial. They are almost representatives of the national table tennis team, both on and off the court. Fan Zhendong is known as a regular at the "Iron Throne" of the table tennis world, and his stable performance has allowed him to repeatedly win gold medals at the Olympics and World Championships. Especially his competitive aura, which often makes opponents feel heavy pressure, and almost no one can find a breakthrough under his powerful aura.
Sun Yingsha's performance is equally astonishing. Although she failed to win gold in the women's singles final at the Paris Olympics, the gold medals she won in the mixed doubles and team events are enough to prove her strength. Currently, Sun Yingsha is already a dominant force in the women's world table tennis scene, just one step away from the grand slam. Moreover, as a star on social media platforms, her number of fans continues to rise, which is a testament to her comprehensive strength.
Wang Manyu's playing style is unique. She is calm and focused, often bringing a stunning feeling to the game. Recently, she successively won the WTT Macau Station championship and the women's team championship of the Table Tennis Super League, leaving no doubt about her abilities. Although she did not win higher-value singles and mixed doubles honors in world competitions, her acquisition of a national-level medal is enough to prove her achievements and contributions. Although some people expressed dissatisfaction with her award, this does not hinder her influence.
However, in this selection, Wang Chuqin's omission was somewhat unacceptable. Especially his performance at the Paris Olympics, where he not only won the team gold medal with Ma Long but also won the mixed doubles gold medal with Sun Yingsha, making him undoubtedly a hero of the Olympics. However, Wang Chuqin's singles results are relatively unstable, losing to young Iranian players and unable to adapt to the Nordic styles of Sweden and Denmark, which may all be reasons for his failure to be elected. Fortunately, Wang Chuqin has already received the National May First Labor Medal, which somewhat makes up for this regret.
As for Chen Meng, although she won the women's singles championship at the Paris Olympics, the expectations for her also rose dramatically, putting immense pressure on her. Faced with the challenges of injuries and attention from all sides, she chose silence. Her decision to withdraw from the WTT world rankings with Fan Zhendong also sparked controversy. However, from a certain perspective, Chen Meng had already won the Youth May Fourth Medal after the Tokyo Olympics, and this selection might have considered other factors, giving way to others, which is reasonable.
In summary, the awards received by Fan Zhendong, Sun Yingsha, and Wang Manyu are well-deserved. They are not only outstanding figures in the field of table tennis but also representative figures of the younger generation. However, it is indeed regrettable that athletes like Wang Chuqin and Chen Meng, who have made great efforts for the country and the table tennis cause, have not received this honor.