Fan Zhendong's withdrawal from the world rankings has really been a source of concern for fans. Everyone is worried that he might not be able to participate in the next Los Angeles Olympics. After all, according to the rules of the world rankings, once a player withdraws, they basically say goodbye to national team competitions. Considering the selection rules of the previous Paris Olympics, where the top two singles players from each country's world ranking could automatically qualify for the Olympic singles event, Fan Zhendong's withdrawal seems to have given up many opportunities.
However, just as fans were anxiously waiting, Liu Guoliang provided some reassurance in his latest interview. He said that although Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng have withdrawn from the world rankings, if necessary, they can still participate in competitions as wildcard players. This has reignited hope among fans, who now believe that Fan Zhendong still has a chance to compete in the Los Angeles Olympics.
During a recent live broadcast event, Fan Zhendong also responded again to the question of whether he will participate in the next Los Angeles Olympics and announced two decisions regarding his future plans.
During the live broadcast, the host directly asked Fan Zhendong, "Now that the last Paris Olympics are over, what are your plans for your career? Will you continue to participate in the Los Angeles Olympics?" Fan Zhendong's response was similar to before. He said that he had invested so much in this Paris Olympics that he was mentally and physically exhausted. Therefore, he now needs more time to think and reflect, to carefully consider what he wants to do in the future.
From Fan Zhendong's words, we can sense that he himself is uncertain about whether he will participate in the Los Angeles Olympics. In terms of age and condition, Fan Zhendong is certainly capable of competing in the Los Angeles Olympics; he has the strength. However, with the current situation between him and the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and his long absence from national team competitions, it is unclear whether he will be able to return to the national team and continue to participate in the Olympics. Therefore, Fan Zhendong is currently reluctant to give a definitive answer.
But we must say that as a professional athlete, Fan Zhendong's desire to stand on the highest stage will definitely not change. The subsequent developments will depend on how both sides' teams negotiate and what results they can achieve. Of course, besides the Los Angeles Olympics, Fan Zhendong also mentioned his future plans during the live broadcast. He said that he hopes to become better and contribute to sports and society. Back when the Paris Olympics ended, Fan Zhendong had already responded to questions about his future plans. He said that the future will definitely be better, but not just in table tennis; he meant that he would try more possibilities in the future.
From the end of the Olympics until now, several months have passed, and Fan Zhendong has not been idle. He has tried many new things. He played baseball, tennis, and collaborated with other fields in sports, trying various possibilities and introducing fans to more things in different fields. For Fan Zhendong, he also hopes to use his significant influence to contribute to competitive sports and social development. Even if he cannot return to the national team to compete in the Olympics in the future, we believe that he will definitely continue to shine in the field of sports.
Therefore, for fans, there is no need to worry too much about Fan Zhendong's future. Whether it's Fan Zhendong or any great athlete, their future is full of various possibilities.