In the 2011 World Table Tennis Championships, after a fierce battle, Zhang Jike narrowly defeated his teammate Wang Hao 4-2 to win the championship. Overwhelmed with joy, he raised his head and let out a long howl, tearing apart the shirt beside him. His wild and unrestrained performance made the fans scream in excitement, and the entire scene was boiling.
At the age of 23, Zhang Jike reached the pinnacle of men's table tennis for the first time. His fierce fighting style made Japanese and Korean players tremble, and Japanese entertainment reporters gave him the nickname "Imperial Tyrant Tiger," while Chinese fans affectionately called him "Tibetan Mastiff."
As the world's seventh player to win the grand slam in table tennis, Zhang Jike is powerful in the sport. However, due to his outstanding abilities, he is known for being unruly and flamboyant, which also led to his downfall.
In 2017, on a variety show, Zhang Jike gently wrote two letters "K" and "T" on the beach, and drew a big heart between them. Fans speculated that this guy must have fallen in love.
Soon enough, Zhang Jike and actress Jing Tian announced their relationship, which shocked the entire sports and entertainment industry. Everyone envied and blessed their sweet love story.
Unfortunately, this sweet love only lasted for a year before they officially announced their breakup. This was followed by a shocking revelation that Jing Tian was being blackmailed by someone who had her private photos.
After Jing Tian reported the incident to the police, the person was caught and revealed that because Zhang Jike, Jing Tian's ex-boyfriend, owed him about 5 million yuan in gambling debts and was unable to repay it, he offered his own private photos of Jing Tian as collateral, leading to the subsequent events.
After the news broke, Zhang Jike's image changed overnight. In the eyes of the fans, "Tibetan Mastiff" occasionally had a rebellious streak, but overall was still good. Now, he was not only involved in gambling but also did such despicable things.
The General Administration of Sport took this matter very seriously and immediately investigated Zhang Jike's misconduct. Soon, Zhang Jike's name disappeared from the national team, and insiders claimed that he was prematurely retired due to his behavior.
Although the incident has passed, it is a pity that a talented athlete cultivated by the country lost the opportunity to compete for the country's glory due to personal misconduct. Industry insiders couldn't help but mention another person's name.
This girl can be considered the white moonlight of young Zhang Jike. She joined the team with him and grew together, each reaching the peak of honor, turning the plot of shoulder-to-shoulder advancement and meeting at the top in novels into reality.
Her name is Liu Shiwen, a capable player of the Chinese women's table tennis team. In 2004, when 16-year-old Zhang Jike was selected into the national team, besides training with his brothers, he also met some female athletes, including Liu Shiwen, who was three years younger than him.
Liu Shiwen is a gentle and quiet girl, but she plays fiercely and trains meticulously, which impressed Zhang Jike, who often misbehaved in the team. Zhang Jike has a quick temper and doesn't listen to anyone when he gets angry.
But Liu Shiwen is not afraid. She speaks slowly and steadily, and Zhang Jike actually listens to her. Gradually, during the arduous training, the two began to develop feelings. No one knows when their hands started to hold each other.
Gradually, careful fans noticed that whenever Liu Shiwen was around, they couldn't take a frontal photo of Zhang Jike. He would always unconsciously follow Liu Shiwen with his gaze. Looking at the girl he loved, the light in his eyes could hardly be hidden.
Whenever the two had contact, Liu Shiwen never had to do anything herself. With just a glance from the girl, "Tibetan Mastiff" would obediently go over and do it for her, with red ears that made Liu Shiwen laugh uncontrollably, both shy and proud.
Once, Zhang Jike, with his explosive temper, was disciplined again for disobedience. This time, he was directly sent back to the provincial team. For a moment, the former "pride of heaven" fell to the ground. Besides a scolding from his father, there was no one around Zhang Jike.
The sad teenager hugged his legs and buried his face in his knees to secretly grieve. But then he felt a familiar touch on his head. Liu Shiwen had secretly come over and looked at him with concern. The girl's words were warm and powerful, which helped Zhang Jike regain his spirits.
After returning to the national team, Zhang Jike had already placed Liu Shiwen in his heart, and their relationship gradually became public. Both of their performances were good, and they didn't let their romance affect their training. The national team leadership did not interfere too much.
However, Zhang Jike's father, who always hoped for his son to become a dragon, was furious upon learning of his son's relationship. He immediately expressed his stance in front of the media, disagreeing with his son's relationship and urging him to focus on his matches. The public opposition from his father made Zhang Jike feel cold, knowing his girlfriend's temperament.
Liu Shiwen is calm and stable but has a strong sense of self-esteem. With such a statement from Zhang Jike's father, she would definitely not continue to cling to him. As Zhang Jike expected, their relationship soon ended without any problems. Liu Shiwen and Zhang Jike continued to train, as if everything had returned to normal.
Liu Shiwen's performance gradually improved, winning championships frequently in various competitions. On the other hand, Zhang Jike's state was unstable. When he was doing well, he was invincible, but he also frequently encountered minor issues on the court, and his mind was no longer fully focused on the competition.
When Zhang Jike was struggling with financial problems, gambling debts, and blackmail with private photos, Liu Shiwen also reached the time for her retirement. After retiring, her life remained fulfilling, occasionally playing matches for the Guangdong club and contributing to her hometown.
Due to her outstanding performance in table tennis, she was appointed by the General Administration of Sport as the chairperson of the International Table Tennis Federation Athletes Committee, where she will continue to contribute to China's sports cause. Her path in life remains as solid and forward-moving as ever.
The young man and woman who entered the national team side by side, green and naive yet full of hope, may have once imagined a future of reaching the top and enjoying endless glory. However, if Zhang Jike and Liu Shiwen were to meet again now, the two with vastly different circumstances would surely have many emotions.
After retiring, Zhang Jike went through a period of silence, occasionally earning some income by live-streaming coaching online. Later, it was rumored that he was preparing to serve as a technical advisor at a table tennis club in Ningbo, Zhejiang, and there was even news that he planned to open his own table tennis hall.
He is indeed very skilled in table tennis, and if he were to make a living with this skill in the future, it would be a correct way to make a living. Perhaps he still remembers 14 years ago, when he was at his lowest point, the encouragement from that girl.
"You cheer up and work hard. I will wait for you to return to the national team. We are both the best athletes who are destined to reach the pinnacle of the world. Don't let me down!" Today, the girl has endured the hardships and is no longer what she used to be.
As agreed, Liu Shiwen has remained consistent in reaching the peak! While Zhang Jike also once worked hard to realize his dream, his indulgence in desires and recklessness in life made him forget his original aspirations and fall to the bottom. There is hope as long as there is a path. In the new year, cut off the past and move towards a new beginning!