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Mike Chan

The election of Wang Liqin as president of the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA) means Olympic champion Fan Zhendong’s return to the national team could be just a matter of time, sport insiders believe.
Fan has not played since winning singles and team gold in Paris last year, and withdrew from the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) world rankings in late December.
But the appointment of Wang, who is said to be a mentor-like figure to Fan, is expected to bring the 28-year-old back to the table after the two struck up a relationship in 2022.
Having played twice for the People’s Liberation Army Bayi team at the National Games in 2013 and 2017, Fan switched to play for Guangdong in 2021 after the Bayi team was disbanded.
In 2022, mainland Chinese media reported that Fan had struck a deal to represent Shanghai, and Wang was said to have played a crucial role in the move.

Wang revealed then that he reached out to Fan as soon as the Bayi team was disbanded in late 2020, and both parties reached an agreement about the switch.
“After reaching a preliminary agreement, we reported the situation to the General Administration of Sports of China,” Wang said in May 2022. “They strongly support the idea of bringing outstanding Bayi team athletes to Shanghai.
“The transfer can be completed after the two-way selection and Fan is now a member of the Shanghai team.”
After recruiting Fan, Wang kept in contact provided a sounding board when the former world No 1 needed. The new CTTA president also showed up to support Fan at tournaments.
Mainland Chinese media also reported that it was Wang and Shanghai that offered Fan the best medical team for him to undergo recovery training before the Paris Olympic Games.
Wang, meanwhile was the second person, after men’s team head coach Wang Hao, Fan approached after beating Sweden’s Truls Moregardh to win men’s singles gold in the French capital.

Fans in China were quick to link the return of Fan to the appointment of Wang.
“Looking forward to seeing you again”, “See you at the next tournament”, “Come back soon” and “I will always support you” were the most commonly seen comments on Weibo.
However, a Shanghainese media outlet reported that Fan would not be returning that soon, and was more likely to do so towards the end of the year.
“During the last Olympics cycle, Fan experienced high-intensity training and huge competition pressure,” the report read. “He is exhausted both physically and mentally, and urgently needs some time to adjust and recharge.
“He also started cross-border exploration and looking for more possibilities for his future … The Shanghai team respects his choice very much.
“Fan will not conduct high-intensity training at present and hence will not be adjusting his form to competition level. The probability of his comeback in the short term is not high, and he is likely to represent the Shanghai team next in this year’s National Games.”


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ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation)

Fan Zhendong expected back in action soon, after naming of ‘mentor’ Wang Liqin as CTTA head

China’s Fan Zhendong, who won the table tennis gold medal at the Paris Olympics last year, was recruited to play for Shanghai by Wang Liqin, who has been a “mentor-like” figure since. Photo: AFP

Former player Wang Liqin was elected chairman of the CTTA on Wednesday. Photo: IC photo

Fan Zhendong confirmed his withdrawal from ITTF world rankings on his Weibo account. Photo: Weibo/樊振东

Bring back Fan Zhendong, Ma Long? Chinese table tennis fans rue Lin’s Macau loss

China’s Lin Shidong on his way to defeat in his final against Hugo Calderano at the ITTF Men’s and Women’s World Cup. Photo: Xinhua

Brazil’s Hugo Calderano poses with his trophy after beating Lin Shidong in the final. Photo: Xinhua

100 metres in 9 seconds? Usain Bolt’s record may fall thanks to Hongkonger’s innovation

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt (centre, in yellow) crosses the finish line in a new world record time to win global 100m gold in 2009. Photo: AFP

Alvina Chen, Feldspar’s founder and CEO. Photo: Feldspar

An illustration of the track developed by UK-based technology company Feldspar. Photo: Feldspar

Sport

China

Other Sport

However, the Olympic champion, who withdrew from world rankings last December, is more likely to play again only later in the year


However, the Olympic champion, who withdrew from world rankings last December, is more likely to play again only later in the year.


2025 National Games