The "Fan Zhendong Welfare" measures have begun to take effect, with multiple star players absent from the WTT main event, and Sun Yingsha benefiting the most.
The incident where Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng withdrew from the world rankings has been over half a month now. This event shook the world of table tennis, as two newly crowned Olympic singles champions announced their withdrawal from the world rankings, challenging capital with their careers. Regardless of the outcome, it is something we should all admire.
In response to this, Liu Guoliang, the head of Chinese table tennis, also clearly stated: "The Chinese Table Tennis Association supports athletes in defending their legitimate rights and interests." After the "Fan Zhendong withdrawal incident," the first WTT main event saw the initial success of the welfare measures that Fan Zhendong fought for on behalf of the athletes.
As the first WTT main event of 2025, this year's WTT Star Challenge Doha station appeared somewhat dim in terms of star power. The Chinese team competed entirely with newcomers, with the oldest being Qian Tianyi at 24 years old, while the national table tennis top players were all on hiatus. In addition to the Chinese team's main players taking a break, well-known players such as Ma Long, Fan Zhendong, Wang Chuqin, Liang Jingkun, Lin Gaoyuan, and Lin Shidong did not participate.
In stark contrast, both Japan and South Korea sent their full main teams to compete in this WTT Star Challenge Doha station, with players like Zhang Ben siblings, Hina Hayata, Miu Hirano, and Shin Yu-bin all participating in the competition.
Seeing this, one might think that this WTT Star Challenge is not particularly significant, especially since the domestic Super League just concluded, and there is still the WTT Singapore Grand Slam at the end of January. It makes sense to let the main players rest during this period.
However, after looking at the lineup for the 2024 WTT Star Challenge Doha station, one might change their mind!
2024 WTT Doha Star Challenge Chinese Team
Men's Singles Main Draw: Ma Long, Fan Zhendong, Wang Chuqin, Liang Jingkun, Lin Gaoyuan, Lin Shidong.
Women's Singles Main Draw: Sun Yingsha, Chen Meng, Wang Manyu, Wang Yidi, Chen Xintong, Qian Tianyi.
Mixed Doubles Main Draw: Wang Chuqin/Sun Yingsha, Lin Shidong/Kuai Man.
Men's Doubles Main Draw: Lin Gaoyuan/Lin Shidong, Ma Long/Wang Chuqin, Liang Jingkun/Yuan Licen.
Women's Doubles Main Draw: Chen Meng/Wang Manyu, Chen Xintong/Qian Tianyi, Zhang Rui/Kuai Man.
The 2024 WTT Star Challenge was held a week after the domestic Super League ended. At that time, the Chinese team sent their full main lineup to participate, forming a stark contrast with this year's lineup.
It should be noted that the capital of Qatar, Doha, has hosted the most world-class events in recent years, and the World Table Tennis Championships in May will also be held in Doha. Therefore, Doha holds great significance for the International Table Tennis Federation. If it weren't for the "Fan Zhendong incident," it is estimated that the Chinese team would still have sent their entire main lineup to compete in this Doha Star Challenge.
Of course, this can also be considered good news for Sun Yingsha, Wang Chuqin, Wang Manyu, and Lin Shidong. The entire schedule for 2024 is indeed very tight. Even "workhorses" like Sun Yingsha have experienced injuries and urgently need rest and recuperation. Wang Chuqin and Wang Manyu also have some physical discomforts to varying degrees. For these top athletes, obtaining sufficient rest and adjustment time is the most important.
Lastly, to conclude, the Chinese team did not send their main players to compete in this WTT Star Challenge Doha station. Whether it was due to the "Fan Zhendong incident" or the arrangement of the table tennis association leadership, it is ultimately beneficial for the athletes. Looking at the arrangements for the 2025 table tennis competitions, Fan Zhendong has completely lost eligibility for all WTT commercial events and the World Championships in May. His next public competition should be the 2025 National Games. Thus, Fan Zhendong will bid farewell to all international events from now on. However, this time, Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng staked their careers to fight for the "labor rights" of countless athletes behind them, aiming to break this extremely imbalanced reality. This spirit is something that future athletes should keep in mind!