On January 18th, Beijing time, Olympic champion Zhang Jike revealed during a live broadcast that Hao Shuai is considered the strongest sparring partner in the national table tennis team. Zhang Jike, 36 years old this year, is an Olympic champion and Grand Slam winner, and also holds the record for being the fastest player to complete the Grand Slam in history. He has now become a table tennis coach. Hao Shuai, who is already 41 years old, was once known as one of the "Six Little Dragons" of the national table tennis team alongside Wang Hao, Qiu Yike, and Chen Qi. He plays with a left-handed horizontal style, using two-sided anti-rubber loop shots, and is particularly strong in his first three attacks. He was once described by Waldner as "the most talented player among Chinese athletes." He won the 2010 Team World Cup, but has repeatedly missed out on being a main player at the World Table Tennis Championships. He is still playing in Japan. During a live broadcast teaching session, Zhang Jike mentioned Hao Shuai. He said, "When Wang Liqin was the main player, Hao Shuai was the sparring partner. When we were the main players, Hao Shuai was still the sparring partner. When Fan Zhendong became the main player, he also sparred for a period of time, but later he stopped sparring because none of them could win against Hao Shuai." This sounds somewhat heart-wrenching, as Zhang Jike acknowledged Hao Shuai's strength, but he has never been an absolute mainstay of the men's national table tennis team.

Recently, the national table tennis team has been quite lively. Ever since Fan Zhendong caused a stir, Liu Guoliang's image has collapsed in the hearts of netizens, and as a result, people's trust in the national table tennis team is not as strong as it used to be. Fan Zhendong's withdrawal means that he cannot participate in upcoming international events. Since he is still young, asking him to withdraw from the international competition arena at this time is equivalent to ending his career prematurely, which is very unfair for someone who has just won an Olympic championship after all, he has just defended the honor of the Chinese men's table tennis team. Perhaps because the incident became too big, Liu Guoliang had to come forward to explain to the public that based on their achievements and contributions, they can participate in any major event with a wild card. This temporarily calmed the public opinion, but not long after, the World Championships roster in Doha was released, and Fan Zhendong's name was not on it. The promotional poster representing Asian players also featured Wang Chuqin, with no trace of Fan Zhendong. In fact, apart from commercial matches, there is another important event recently, which is the Asian Cup. The Asian Cup will be held in Shenzhen in February. According to the rules of the event, China can send six male and female athletes each to participate in the competition. Today, China finally announced the participants. The men's team consists of Wang Chuqin, Lin Shidong, Liang Jingkun, Lin Gaoyuan, Chen Yuanyu, and…

Translation of the article content: Recently, the national table tennis team has made significant moves to distance itself from fan culture, with Wang Chuqin taking the lead as an example. His fan club decisively disbanded its fan group, and he himself massively unfollowed on social media platforms. He also openly expressed his hope for everyone to attain the freedom they desire at the Weibo Night event, which sparked heated discussions. Initially, fans assumed that Wang Chuqin wanted to escape the excessive entanglement of the fan circle, as the influence of fan culture on athletes is both beneficial and detrimental. Many hoped he could play in a purer environment. However, as the situation developed, people couldn't help but wonder if there was more to the story? Media personality He Xiaolong's interpretation escalated the entire incident to new heights. Let's first examine Wang Chuqin's series of actions. The disbandment of the fan group by his fan club is undoubtedly a heavy blow in today's climate where fan power is substantial. It clearly indicates that he no longer wants to be closely monitored by fans and yearns for personal space. The mass unfollowing on social media might be an attempt to clean up his social environment and shed unnecessary social burdens. The phrase "I hope everyone can attain the freedom they desire" at Weibo Night is perplexing and led to various speculations at the time. Some believe he was venting his dissatisfaction with the fan circle, while others speculate he was hinting at his helplessness in certain situations. However, He Xiaolong's interpretation offers…

The list of participants for the Asian Cup has been announced, with the event scheduled to take place in Shenzhen from February 19 to 23. Both the men's team head coach Wang Hao and the women's team head coach Ma Lin have also made statements regarding the selection mechanism for the competition. Ma Lin's remarks were quite appropriate. He first mentioned Chen Meng, who withdrew from the competition, and communicated with her personally. The decision for her not to participate in international competitions recently is a sign of respect for the national table tennis honor champion and reflects his concern for his apprentice. On the other hand, Wang Hao's statement seemed to overlook personal relationships, as he did not mention Fan Zhendong at all, who is not only his junior but also his disciple. When Fan Zhendong won the Paris Men's Singles Olympic singles championship, Wang Hao played the emotional card. However, after Fan Zhendong withdrew from the competition, Wang Hao remained silent, which led to criticism from netizens. Famous journalist He Xiaolong said in a live broadcast that Wang Hao had no right to speak. Only Liu Guoliang has the authority to speak for the national table tennis team, or someone authorized by Liu Guoliang. Wang Hao has no qualifications, and if he speaks out of turn, it would be detrimental to his career in the circle. He Xiaolong's point is quite reasonable, and Wang Hao did nothing wrong. After all, he needs to make a living and cannot openly oppose his superiors; he still needs to protect his…

Recently, in the live broadcast room of famous journalist He Xiaolong, He Xiaolong claimed that Liu Guoliang's destruction of the table tennis ecosystem is much more severe than Li Tie's impact on the football circle. He Xiaolong said: The football circle has always had poor results and an unfavorable internal environment. There are many cases of gambling and match-fixing. Such incidents were already common before Li Tie, not to say that Li Tie ruined it. Li Tie was just a typical example of corruption caught. Li Tie became too arrogant after taking charge of the national team, with a very bad nature. However, his control over the football circle was far less effective; he could only control the national team and Wuhan club, with other clubs not listening to him at all. But the table tennis circle is different. Before Liu and even during his early tenure as head coach, the overall environment was quite good, arguably the best in the sports world. Even if there were negative news, they were individual cases, such as the "letting-ball" controversy, which was initially done to improve results. Incidents like Kong Linghui and Zhang Jike's gambling scandals were limited to individuals, and the table tennis circle as a whole was still good. However, since Liu took charge of the Table Tennis Association and held three positions simultaneously, everything changed. Domestic events and clubs of all sizes are under his control, including matters in the international table tennis arena where he also has significant influence. This has led to a monopoly, destroying the entire…

The landscape of China's national table tennis men's singles is quietly changing, with the emergence of the "three giants of the post-05 generation," which is increasing the competitive pressure on Wang Chuqin. The 2025 season has already seen two international competitions: the WTT Doha Star Challenge and the WTT Oman Regular Challenge. For me, these matches are somewhat uninteresting as they are low-level events with many unfamiliar faces, making it hard to get excited. However, after forcing myself to watch a few games, I discovered that there are surprises for the Chinese team in both the men's and women's divisions. The concerns about the梯队 construction might have been overthought, as the coaching staff has already considered these issues. Professionals see further and more deeply than ordinary people. For me, the impressive players from these two stations include Kuai Man breaking through herself, Shi Xunyao catching up later, Huang Youzheng + Chen Yuanyu, post-05 players entering the international arena... Focusing on the men's singles, I feel that Wang Chuqin's potential internal competitive pressure is quietly rising again. Firstly, Ma Long, Fan Zhendong, Liang Jingkun, and Lin Gaoyuan are gradually becoming "a thing of the past." Ma Long, who has already stated that he will not participate in international competitions due to his age reaching the veteran category. Fan Zhendong, after withdrawing from the world rankings, it is unknown whether he will compete internationally in the future. Perhaps only when registering for the Doha World Table Tennis Championships can we see some direction. Liang Jingkun and Lin Gaoyuan, considered slightly lower-tier world…

Another day of public outrage has arrived. After much anticipation, the roster for the 34th Table Tennis Asian Cup has finally been announced. As expected, Ma Long, Fan Zhendong, and Chen Meng, who were originally on the invitation list, have not made it onto the Asian Cup roster. Upon the release of the list, netizens were in an uproar, with most expressing their support for Fan Zhendong. Brother Dong was initially on the invitation list, but... so his spot was taken, clearly giving his place to someone else, treating him like an outsider. In contrast to the remarks by the women's team head coach Ma Lin, the men's team head coach Wang Hao's comments have been criticized by netizens. Some netizens say, "White Gao hates Fan Zhendong more than 191, not even mentioning him, it's too heartbreaking! At least Ma Lin explained the situation with Chen Meng." Other netizens say, "In the past, there was still consideration for the master-disciple relationship, but now there can be no psychological burden in scolding White Gao." The women's team at least communicated with Chen Meng, while the men's team didn't even mention Fan Zhendong, so did the men's team not communicate with Fan Zhendong? "Wang, Lin, Liang, and Lin are currently the strongest in the team." Isn't Brother Dong part of the team? So is Fan Zhendong directly categorized as a retired player and kicked out of the team? Although there was some mental preparation, it still feels like a blow. Ma Lin maintained basic decorum and respect, but Wang Hao seems to…

The Asian Cup roster has sparked heated discussions with the absence of familiar names such as Fan Zhendong and Ma Long, while Chen Meng has opted out due to personal reasons. This time, the "usual formula" has been replaced by fresh faces like Chen Yuanyu, Huang Youzheng, and Shi Xunyao, who have been boldly promoted. The exclusion of veterans and the rise of young talents have raised questions about the Chinese national table tennis team's intentions: Why is the team so willing to make these changes? Is it because the veterans are no longer capable, or are the newcomers ready to take over? Behind this lies Liu Guoliang's new strategy: to promote the rejuvenation of the national table tennis team and provide opportunities for more newcomers. While this sounds like a well-thought-out reform, the actual implementation of sidelining veterans has left a bitter-sweet taste. Is this a panacea or a gamble? There is certainly much to discuss. The story begins in 2024 when the national table tennis team entered a new competitive cycle. Liu Guoliang proposed a strategic guideline of "fair opportunity" at an internal meeting – regardless of seniority, those with ability would receive more chances; conversely, even the most famous players could not be guaranteed participation. It was clear that this strategy targeted young players, but what was unexpected was the rapid "young storm" within the team. This Asian Cup roster is a concentrated reflection of such reforms. Fans familiar with the national table tennis team know that veteran wild cards were almost a given, either due to…

In recent years, fan culture has spread vigorously in society, but are you aware that this force is quietly eroding the sports world, especially top-level sports projects like the national table tennis team? The fervent adoration of star fans seems to be a boost to the sports industry, yet its negative impacts compel us to reflect: Is this "love" more about support or causing trouble? When it comes to the national table tennis team, what comes to mind is their illustrious record: countless gold medals, formidable strength, and the solid foundation of the "Table Tennis Kingdom." Fan Zhendong, as the leader of the national table tennis team, has repeatedly secured the world's number one ranking with his outstanding performance on the court. However, despite his numerous glories, he cannot escape the troubles brought by "fan culture." The fervent pursuit of fans not only brings glory under the spotlight but also causes more disturbances and pressure in daily life. Extreme fans' excessive interference even affects Fan Zhendong's daily life and competitive state. This issue not only troubles Fan Zhendong himself but has also drawn the attention of the General Administration of Sport, becoming a reality that the entire sports industry must confront. The greatest harm of fan culture may be blind worship and emotional失控. Competitive sports, which should be based on strength, are influenced by this excessive emotionalization. Fans are no longer satisfied with supporting their idols on the field; they turn their attention to beyond the field, frequently interfering with athletes' private spaces and even directly impacting their lives and…

In the sports world, especially in the field of table tennis, recent developments have attracted widespread attention and heated discussion among fans. The withdrawal of Fan Zhendong, Ma Long, and Chen Meng from the WTT world rankings, as well as their potential difficulty in returning to international competitions, has caused great concern among many fans. As the poem by Xin Qiji says, "Having accomplished the king's affairs under heaven, winning fame before and after life. Alas, white hair appears!" It is truly regrettable that these outstanding athletes face such a situation at the peak of their careers. As this incident continues to ferment, Liu Guoliang has been pushed to the forefront of public opinion, and the vacancy of the director of the Table Tennis and Badminton Center seems to have become a new focus. This position carries special significance, with administrative rank, which fundamentally differs from Liu Guoliang's current status as the head of the Ping Pong Association, a civilian organization. In this context, fans naturally began to expect the emergence of someone who could change the current situation of the national table tennis team. The legendary figure Wang Tao has entered the fans' field of vision. Wang Tao has written a glorious chapter in the history of the national table tennis team, winning nine world championship titles. His coaching abilities are also remarkable, and Fan Zhendong is one of his outstanding disciples he personally cultivated. Considering the level, he was once a lieutenant general, and this identity seems to give him a certain advantage in meeting the requirements for…