Fan Zhendong: I will not accept the loss at the Paris Olympics, responding to the controversy of "joining the Bundesliga" for the first time

On July 26, Fan Zhendong, the Olympic champion and Super Grand Slam winner, accepted an exclusive interview with Phoenix TV. When asked whether the reporter's question was whether it would be acceptable if he lost to Zhang Benzhihe, he said: He could not accept it. He believed that it was not only that he could not accept it, but also many people who care about Chinese table tennis could not accept it. If the Chinese team missed the medal in a single event, it was actually unimaginable. I think for myself, Zhang Benzhi and I have always been a difficult opponent, but when I really got on the court, I never thought of losing, I just wanted to win. In the final Olympic final, Fan Zhendong defeated Moregard 4-1, won the men's singles gold medal, achieving a super Grand Slam.

In this interview, Fan Zhendong also responded to the controversy over "joining the Bundesliga" for the first time. He said: "It's not a decision that can be made by one side when someone is so angry that he can make one-sided. It's not a sudden idea. After the Olympics, I communicated with Chairman Liu Guoliang that I wanted to play in Europe, and he was also very supportive at the time. I am very grateful to the leaders and coaches of the national team for their understanding and support of my ideas."

In a face-to-face interview with a celebrity in Phoenix TV, he said that after the Tokyo Olympics, he encountered large-scale intrusion from the fan circle, and the airport's close-up shooting, hotel follow-up, and identity information leakage became the norm. In 2023, a "crazy fans" used illegal means to obtain room cards and "illegal break into hotel rooms" incident, which became a turning point in the collapse of the psychological defense line.

The behavior of the fan circle made Fan Zhendong very frightened and panicked. Fan Zhendong said that he could not understand this kind of motivation. This "illegal intrusion incident" is a starting point that subverts his imagination. He never thought that such a thing would happen, nor did he think that as an athlete, he still needed to deal with such troubles.

After that, when you go to the competition and stay in the hotel, you will have fearful thoughts. "Apart from the competition, you have to go out, you only stay in the room for the rest of the time." Fan Zhendong said that he would be photographed during his daily meals and training, amplified and interpreted, and even spread to his family. During that period, he was forced to self-enclose and fall into internal friction. The shutter sounds in the game would be in fear of being unsafe.

Will you still play games on behalf of the country in the future? Fan Zhendong said: This is all in-depth communication and decision with coaches and leaders in the future. At this stage, I don’t think I have such strong abilities and cannot withstand this pressure from all aspects.

Proofreading Hu Yanlu