Latest news with #FanZhendong
South China Morning Post
29-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Fan Zhendong condemns ‘battlefield' of China's toxic fan culture
Table tennis superstar Fan Zhendong has voiced a wish for the public to dampen down China's so-called toxic fan culture, saying it had caused him anxiety. Advertisement Fan spoke out in a television interview screened during the second leg of the Chinese Table Tennis Super League in Fujian, which ended on Monday with the Olympic champion having been dominant. The 28-year-old from Guangzhou said fans' actions sometimes hurt not only athletes but also teams, teammates, friends and families. 'To this day, I still can't get over it, and I still think that they shouldn't be in this place that should be pure,' Fan told Phoenix TV in a 26-minute interview that he shared on Chinese social media. 'Sport should not be reduced to a battlefield for fans. It belongs to love, passion, persistence and unity.'
South China Morning Post
21-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Fan Zhendong ticket sales spark frenzy as fans praise low prices in Germany
Tickets to watch Fan Zhendong sold out within 24 hours, as fans in China praised the low prices. Fan recently signed for 1. FC Saarbrücken, with the German club's popularity soaring overnight. The Bundesliga side had expected season tickets to take weeks to sell – instead, they were snapped up within a day. The tickets – ranging from €100 (US$115.25) to €800 – cover all Saarbrücken home matches in the Table Tennis Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League, leaving many mainland Chinese fans in awe of the pricing. '€800 for a VIP pass with the best seats and access from August to June … the price is too good,' one user wrote on social media. Fans in Germany can see Fan Zhendong in action for much cheaper than in mainland China. Photo: AFP 'Roughly 6,000 Yuan for the whole season, it's such a good deal,' another comment read.
Reuters
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Chinese fans bid emotional farewell to retiring 'Uncle Boll'
June 17 (Reuters) - Chinese table tennis fans bid an emotional farewell to their 'Uncle Boll', German former world number one Timo Boll who challenged China's long-time dominance of the sport. The 44-year-old, who retired from international competition last year with four Olympic medals (two silver and two bronze), played his final professional match in Frankfurt on Sunday. "Thank you to the Chinese fans for your deep affection that crossed national borders," Boll posted on Weibo after his team lost the Bundesliga final. "From Ma Lin to Fan Zhendong, every clash with a great opponent has been one of my most cherished honours," Boll said, referring to two Chinese Olympic champions. The post received millions of views in China, where table tennis is widely regarded as the country's national sport.
Free Malaysia Today
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Free Malaysia Today
‘Farewell, Comrade Boll': Chinese fans hail German table tennis ace
Four-time Olympic medallist Timo Boll thanked fans for their 'thunderous support' on Weibo. (AFP pic) BEIJING : Chinese table tennis fans today bade a heartfelt farewell to the retiring Timo Boll, Germany's former world No 1 known fondly as 'Uncle Boll' by millions in the Asian country. The 44-year-old played his last professional match on Sunday in Frankfurt as his domestic team lost the Bundesliga final in Frankfurt. It made headlines in China and on the X-like Weibo platform a related hash tag had more than 4 million views as of noon today. Writing in Chinese and German on Weibo, four-time Olympic medallist Boll thanked fans for their 'thunderous support'. 'Thank you to the Chinese fans for your deep affection that crossed national borders,' he wrote to his nearly 800,000 followers. 'From Ma Lin to Fan Zhendong, every clash with a great opponent has been one of my most cherished honours,' Boll added, referring to two Chinese table tennis giants and Olympic champions. Table tennis is widely considered China's national sport and is played recreationally across the country. China has dominated the sport at the Olympics since it was introduced as a medal event in 1988, winning 37 of the 42 gold medals. They won all five titles at the Paris Games last summer. Boll never quite reached those heights during a career spanning three decades, but retires with two Olympic silvers and two bronzes, all in team competition. He was widely admired by table tennis fans in China as one of the few non-Chinese players who challenged the country's dominance, especially in the 2000s and 2010s. Following his final event in the country a year ago, Boll called China his second home. 'You can see I still have some tears in my eyes,' Boll, who won 20 European titles in singles, doubles and team events, said at the time. Boll said in a 2019 interview that he had learnt 'a little bit' of Chinese and had 'many Chinese friends'. Chinese fans expressed strong emotions this week as Boll bowed out. 'Farewell, Comrade Boll. We wave goodbye with both smiles and tears,' said one Weibo user. 'Uncle Boll's table tennis career has been long and brilliant,' said another, adding 'he influenced an entire generation'. State news agency Xinhua described Boll as having a 'storied career at the sport's highest level'.
South China Morning Post
17-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
‘Farewell, Comrade Boll': China fans hail retiring German table tennis ace
Chinese table tennis fans have bid a heartfelt farewell to the retiring Timo Boll, Germany's former world No 1 known fondly as 'Uncle Boll' by millions in the Asian country. Advertisement The 44-year-old played his last professional match on Sunday in Frankfurt as his domestic team lost the Bundesliga final in Frankfurt. It made headlines in China and on the X-like Weibo platform a related hashtag had more than four million views as of noon Tuesday. Writing in Chinese and German on Weibo, four-time Olympic medallist Boll thanked fans for their 'thunderous support'. 'Thank you to the Chinese fans for your deep affection that crossed national borders,' he wrote to his nearly 800,000 followers. Advertisement 'From Ma Lin to Fan Zhendong, every clash with a great opponent has been one of my most cherished honours,' Boll added, referring to two Chinese table tennis giants and Olympic champions.
