(ECNS) — Chinese table tennis star and Olympic champion Fan Zhendong announced his decision to withdraw from the world rankings on Friday, citing new regulations introduced by World Table Tennis (WTT) that impose fines for non-participation.
In a heartfelt post shared on his official Weibo account on Friday, Fan assured fans that he has no plans to retire and remains committed to the sport he loves.
Fan Zhendong’s statement on Weibo. (Photo: screenshot)
In his statement, Fan reflected on his journey and hinted at the psychological toll of high-level competition.
“When I mentioned ‘Last dance’ in May, I had already anticipated that Paris might be my last Olympics. I would give my all to fight for my country,” he said. “After successfully completing my Olympic mission, the immense psychological toll left from the Paris cycle has made me uncertain about planning my future career, except for confirming my participation in the next National Games.”
Fan expressed his concerns over new regulations introduced by WTT, which imposes fines for non-participation. “I am unable to bear this burden, though I respect international organizations. Therefore, I have no choice but to withdraw from the world rankings for now,” he explained, adding that he had already submitted a report to the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and the Chinese Table Tennis Association.
Despite this decision, Fan reassured his supporters that he is not stepping away from the sport.
“I am still myself, not retiring, and will continue to work hard to participate in various competitions. Table tennis has been my badge of honor throughout my childhood, youth, and adulthood. My boundless love for sports will enrich my entire life. I will not stray far from table tennis, nor will I leave the field of sports,” he wrote.
Fan concluded his post with a message of determination, quoting, “Never stop chasing my wildest dreams” and “It’s time to try defying gravity.”
The announcement follows the latest ITTF rankings released this week, where Fan dropped to sixth place. Of his eight valid ranking points, five were marked as zero.
The news has sparked widespread discussion, with many accusing WTT’s ranking system of prioritizing commercial interests over athletes’ well-being.
Fans argued that the new regulations place excessive pressure on players, leaving them overworked and unable to balance competition with necessary recovery.
