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Lars Hamer

The head of Chinese table tennis has described as “really questionable” the new rules that have prompted three of the country’s leading stars to withdraw from the world rankings.
Olympic champions Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng stunned Chinese table tennis fans on Friday when they announced they had withdrawn from the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) rankings.
When the world rankings were updated on Tuesday, it was revealed that another of the country’s Olympic heroes, Ma Long, had also removed himself.
The trio stepped away from the ITTF rankings after an announcement that players who missed World Table Tennis (WTT) tournaments to play in other events could be fined, with those in the top 20 facing a penalty of US$5,000.

Liu Guoliang, president of the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA), who is also the ITTF deputy president and chairman of the WTT council, said he would push the bodies to amend the rules.
“Ma Long, Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng have made outstanding contributions to table tennis in China and across the world, winning gold and silver at the World Championships and competing for their country,” Liu told mainland Chinese media.
“They are meritorious athletes, great athletes and will surely become legendary athletes. I fully understand, support and respect their personal choices and decisions.
“As president of the [CTTA], I fully support the athletes in defending their rights and safeguarding their interests.
“I also think that the rules, such as WTT mandatory participation, assigning zero points, and fines, are really questionable.”
WTT had said in response to the announcement by Fan and Chen that its rules stipulating which tournaments players must compete in were nothing new, and were “consistent with established practices in other professional sports”.
The WTT 2025 handbook, published on December 20, stated that players who missed the WTT Grand Smash, WTT Champions or WTT Finals would be fined if they took part in a non-WTT competition running concurrently.
Fan and Chen, who at the Paris Games won gold in the men’s and women’s singles respectively as well as in the team events, posted pictures of a letter addressed to WTT titled “player career retirement notification”, dated December 23.
Fan, 27, added that it did not indicate his retirement from the sport and said he would play in November’s National Games.
The duo skipped the season-ending WTT finals in Fukuoka last month and were not going to feature in the WTT Grand Smash leg in Singapore in January and February.
Liu suggested that the WTT look into allowing a “participation exemption” clause to ensure the best players stayed in the world rankings but could opt out of competitions.
On Tuesday evening, Fan’s club side, Shanghai Real Estate, lost to Team Shandong Weiqiao Xiangshang, featuring Wang Chuqin and Liang Jingkun, who progressed to the final of the China Table Tennis Super League.
Speaking after the match, Fan dodged questions about whether he would focus more on competitions in mainland China following his withdrawal from the rankings.
“I know that everyone has been paying attention to these things in the past few days,” Fan said. “For me, there are many things I want to say.
“I will also communicate with everyone without reservation, including on my own social media. There is a plan to communicate with everyone, and I hope to receive everyone’s blessings.”


China’s Ma Long hints National Games will be swansong, denies he is table tennis ‘GOAT’

Table tennis row has the potential to cause irreparable damage

After Chinese table tennis trio withdraw from rankings, ITTF sets up task force

China table tennis chief backs Fan Zhendong, Chen Meng as Ma Long joins rankings boycott

ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation)

Ma Long plays in the China Smash tournament in Beijing last October. Photo: AFP

Fan Zhendong in action for China’s men’s team at last year’s Paris Olympics. Photo: Xinhua

World Table Tennis hits back in Fan Zhendong, Chen Meng ‘retirement’ controversy

Fan Zhendong celebrates winning a point during China’s 2024 Olympic men’s team semi-final victory over France. Photo: Xinhua

Fan Zhendong after beating Truls Moregard for Paris Olympic gold. Photo: Xinhua

Chen Meng is overcome with emotion after beating Sun Yingsha for a second singles Olympic gold. Photo: EPA-EFE

Chinese influencer issues ‘deepest apology’ for fake video, spreading table tennis lies

The public apology expressed “deepest apology” after sharing a fake video that damaged the reputations of Olympic champions Chen Meng (right) and silver medallist Sun Yingsha. Photo: Xinhua

Retired table tennis legend Liu Guoliang (middle) with players Ma Long (right) and Lin Gaoyuan. Photo: ITTF

There is avid rivalry in China between those who back Chen Meng (left) and those pro-Sun Yingsha (right). Photo: Xinhua

China’s Fan Zhendong pleads for privacy after supporters mob him at hotel following win

Fan Zhendong has once again had issues with obsessive fans. Photo: Xinhua

China Olympian Fan Zhendong posted a video of fans mobbing him at his hotel. 

Sport

China

Liu Guoliang vows to push global governing bodies to change rules on skipping World Table Tennis events, calling them ‘really questionable’


Liu Guoliang vows to push global governing bodies to change rules on skipping World Table Tennis events, calling them ‘really questionable’.


Fan Zhendong

Ma Long

Chen Meng