Paris Olympics: Ma Long fans call for return of table tennis legend after No 1’s exit
- Several have joked that the champion from Tokyo, who did not play in the singles in Paris, should be brought back for the next Olympics
Despite relocating from the field to the stands in Paris, table tennis legend Ma Long has proved to be far from a star whose power is fading.
Following the shock exit of the world’s No 1 Wang Chuqin in the round of 32 of the men’s singles on Wednesday, Chinese social media has been abuzz with calls for Ma, the reigning champion, to return to the table and defend the nation’s honour.
Named as flag-bearer of China’s delegation at the opening ceremony in Paris, Ma was excluded from the singles roster for Paris given Wang and Fan were ranked top two.
But with China losing its chance to sweep the gold and silver medals in men’s singles, people have expressed concern and disappointment at the seeming lack of competitiveness of the younger generation of the country’s team.
Representing China in the men’s singles in the French capital was 24-year-old Wang, who won mixed doubles gold with Sun Yingsha, and Fan Zhendong, 27, the world No 4.
Fan beat Japan’s Harimoto Tomokazu 4-3 in a gruelling quarter-final on Thursday, following that up with a win over France’s world No 5 Felix Lebrun in straight sets to reach Sunday’s gold medal match.
