Last Updated on September 25, 2025 by Sorin Petroj
Fan Zhendong achieved the pinnacle of table tennis success at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he captured the men’s singles gold medal and completed his career Grand Slam. Defeating Truls Moregard 4-1 in the final, Fan became the sixth male player in history to win Olympic, World Championship, and World Cup singles titles.
This Olympic triumph marked a career-defining moment for the Chinese superstar, who had long been considered one of the greatest players never to win Olympic singles gold. However, Fan’s journey since Paris has taken an unexpected turn, as he withdrew from international competition and ITTF rankings, citing ongoing struggles with toxic fan culture and mental health challenges.
2024 Paris Olympic Gold Medal and Grand Slam Achievement
Fan Zhendong’s Olympic singles gold medal victory represented the culmination of years of preparation and perseverance. Entering the tournament as the No. 2 seed, Fan navigated through the draw without dropping a match until the final, where he faced Sweden’s Truls Moregard in an unexpected showdown.
The final proved dramatic as Fan lost the opening game 7-11, raising concerns about another potential Olympic disappointment. However, he demonstrated remarkable composure and tactical adaptation, winning the next four games with scores of 11-9, 11-9, 11-8, and 11-8. His consistent backhand play and ability to adjust his strategy mid-match proved decisive in securing the 4-1 victory on August 4, 2024.
This victory completed Fan’s “Super Grand Slam” status by age 27, joining an exclusive group of players to achieve this feat. The triumph was particularly meaningful given his previous Olympic silver medal at Tokyo 2020, where he fell short in the final against Ma Long.
Current Status and Withdrawal from International Competition
Despite his Olympic success, Fan Zhendong made the surprising decision to withdraw from the ITTF world rankings at the end of 2024. This move means he is currently unranked internationally and ineligible for most official ITTF and WTT tournaments.
The withdrawal allows Fan to focus on domestic and club competitions without the mandatory participation requirements of international events. He has since joined the German Bundesliga with Saarbrücken while continuing to compete in China’s domestic circuit, where he has maintained exceptional form.
Recent Domestic Dominance
Fan’s competitive edge remains sharp despite his absence from international rankings. In the China Table Tennis Super League 2025, he has been the standout performer for Shanghai Zhongxing, winning eleven consecutive matches including notable victories over current world No. 1 Lin Shidong.
During the opening leg, Fan won all seven of his singles matches, highlighted by a 3-2 victory over Lin Shidong that went viral on Chinese social media. His continued dominance has led to significant public pressure for his return to the national team, though he remains committed to his current path.
2023 World Champion in Durban (South Africa)
Fan Zhendong’s playing style showed complete dominance at the 2023 World Championships, where he successfully defended his title against world number 2 Wang Chuqin. Despite Wang saving six match points in a thrilling encounter, Fan’s superior experience and tactical awareness saw him through to a 4-2 victory in the men’s singles final.
This championship represented Fan’s continued excellence at the highest level, with the two Chinese countrymen providing a showcase of modern table tennis at its finest. The match demonstrated why both players are considered among the greatest talents in contemporary table tennis.
Early Life and Development
Fan Zhendong’s journey to table tennis greatness began when he picked up his first paddle at age 5. His parents initially viewed the sport as a recreational activity, with no expectation that their son would develop into a world-class athlete. However, Fan’s natural talent became evident when he won his first tournament at age 7, claiming victory at the Guangzhou City Men’s table tennis tournament.
This early success generated significant attention and helped establish a growing fan base around the young prodigy. Recognizing his exceptional potential, his parents made the decision to enroll him in a specialized sports academy, where he could receive professional coaching and develop his technical skills under expert guidance.
VISIT WIKIPEDIA FOR MORE DETAILS!
As Fan matured, his competition schedule intensified significantly. By age 11, his performances had attracted attention from influential figures within China’s table tennis hierarchy. He earned selection to join the elite Eight Table Tennis Team, where he trained alongside world-renowned figures like Lui Guoliang and Wang Hao.
His progression continued with selection to the Chinese National B team, where he claimed victory in the Tongzhou tournament. Observing the success and technical excellence of the National A team provided additional motivation for Fan to elevate his training intensity. His dedication ultimately paid off when he joined the Chinese A team, where he achieved victory in three different categories: singles, mixed doubles, and team events.
Fan Zhendong Equipment
The Stiga table tennis company sponsors Fan Zhendong, providing him with cutting-edge equipment tailored to his aggressive playing style. His equipment evolution reflects his development as a player, transitioning from a Viscaria blade to the Stiga Infinity VPS V for enhanced performance characteristics.
The Infinity VPS V with Diamond Touch represents the pinnacle of blade technology for aggressive modern play. Its foundation consists of two center veneers crafted through Stiga’s innovative Infinity VPS technology (Veneer Precision System), which utilizes a precise and unique heating and cooling procedure. This manufacturing process results in a lightweight, aggressive blade that delivers exceptional solid experience and optimal power transfer.
For rubber combinations, Fan employs a Hurricane 3 National Blue sponge on his forehand, providing the tacky surface preferred by Chinese players for generating powerful topspin and precise placement. His backhand features Butterfly Tenergy 05 rubber, known for its versatility in accommodating both Chinese and European playing styles.
During the 2019 World Table Tennis Championships, Fan experimented with the brand-new Butterfly Dignics 05, which had been released on April 1 of that year, demonstrating his willingness to adapt his equipment for optimal performance.
Fan Zhendong Table Tennis Blade & Rubbers
CHECK PRICES ON MEGASPIN:
In the 2022 Table Tennis Championship tournament in Chengdu, Fan used Butterfly Fan Zhendong ALC blade with DHS Hurricane 3 and Dignics 09c rubber. Fan Zhendong’s custom blades utilize Arylate Carbon technology, which provides a unique combination of flexibility and power.
The arylate-carbon hybrid construction creates a flexible weapon optimized for modern table tennis. Equipped with Arylate-Carbon fibers, the blade offers exceptional flexibility and ease of use, providing an excellent balance between offensive capabilities and defensive stability.
Fan Zhendong chooses Butterfly Viscaria for major competitions because it best complements his playing style, which emphasizes attack and counterattack from close-to-mid-distance positions on both forehand and backhand sides.
Fan Zhendong’s Rivalry with Ma Long
The rivalry between Fan Zhendong and Ma Long represents one of the most compelling storylines in modern table tennis. Their early encounters established a pattern that would define Fan’s development, with his 2015 World Championships semifinal loss to Ma Long serving as a crucial learning experience. At just 18 years old, Fan’s 4-1 defeat against the more experienced champion highlighted the gap he needed to bridge.
Fan’s improvement became evident in their 2017 championship encounter, where he pushed Ma Long to a grueling 4-3 match that ended 12-10 in the decisive game. This narrow defeat demonstrated Fan’s rapid development and growing confidence against his legendary opponent.
Throughout their careers, Ma Long and Fan Zhendong have faced each other 28 times, with Ma Long holding a 21-7 advantage in their head-to-head record. However, their encounters in 2019 showed how the dynamic had shifted, with both players drawing 4-4 in their most recent meetings before Fan’s rise to prominence.
Fan Zhendong reached equal skill level with Ma Long despite their age difference, with Fan’s youth providing advantages in speed and endurance while Ma Long’s experience offered tactical superiority in crucial moments.
After spending 29 months as the world’s #2 table tennis player, Fan eventually rose to the top of the rankings, fulfilling a lifelong ambition. However, his success brought new challenges, as opponents began targeting him more aggressively due to his top ranking status.
Mental Health Struggles and Fan Culture Issues
Fan Zhendong’s career has been significantly impacted by extreme fan behavior and mental health challenges, issues he addressed candidly in a 2024 Phoenix TV interview. His experiences with toxic fan culture reached a breaking point following a hotel room break-in incident in 2023, where obsessive fans illegally obtained a key card and entered his private quarters.
Recounting the incident, Fan stated, “This really scared me. I never expected it.” The break-in left him with what he described as a “serious psychological shadow,” resulting in heightened anxiety and reluctance to leave his hotel room except for competitions.
In his Phoenix TV interview, Fan condemned the extreme behavior, describing Chinese fan culture as a “battlefield” rather than a sanctuary for sport. He emphasized that sport should not be reduced to a battlefield for fans, stating: “It belongs to love, passion, persistence, and unity.”
The psychological toll extended to his athletic performance, with Fan experiencing anxiety during matches when camera shutters or stray thoughts triggered memories of harassment. He described moments when, while leading in matches, he would “lose control” and “desperately want to leave quickly and just hide somewhere safer.” This period included more than 300 days without winning a singles championship due to the external stress.
These experiences ultimately influenced his decision to withdraw from international competition and join the German Bundesliga, seeking what he described as “a more normal and pure sporting environment” away from the intense scrutiny and harassment he faced in China.
Fan Zhendong Achievement and Awards
Fan Zhendong’s trophy cabinet reflects his status among table tennis greats, with achievements spanning over a decade of elite competition. He became the youngest player to join the Chinese national team in 2012, setting records that would later be surpassed by Tomokazu Harimoto but establishing his early potential.
His most significant achievement remains his world number one ranking, first reached in 2018. Although he initially held the position for seven months before losing it, Fan quickly reclaimed the top spot and maintained it for extended periods. His 2024 Olympic gold medal represents the crown jewel of his career, completing his Grand Slam collection.
The International Table Tennis Federation recognized Fan’s excellence through multiple nominations for the Best Male Star Award in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016, reflecting his consistent high-level performances across multiple seasons.
Major Title Victories:
- Olympic Games Singles Gold – 2024
- World Table Tennis Championships Singles – 2023
- Asia Cup Singles – 2018, 2019
- ITTF World Tour Singles – 2013, 2019
- Table Tennis World Cup Singles – 2016, 2018, 2019
- Asia Table Tennis Championships Singles – 2015, 2017
- World Table Tennis Championships Team – 2014, 2016, 2018
- Table Tennis World Cup Team – 2015, 2018, 2019
- ITTF World Tour Doubles – 2014, 2019
- Asia Table Tennis Championships Doubles – 2015, 2017
- World Table Tennis Championships Doubles – 2017
- Asia Mixed Doubles Championship – 2015
Looking Forward
At 28 years old, Fan Zhendong has achieved virtually every major honor in table tennis, including the Olympic gold medal that had long eluded him. His decision to step away from international competition reflects both his desire for mental well-being and his evolution as a person beyond the sport.
While fans want Fan Zhendong rushed back to the Chinese national team following his dominant domestic performances, he remains committed to his current path. His continued excellence in the China Table Tennis Super League demonstrates that his competitive fire burns as bright as ever, even as he pursues a different relationship with professional table tennis.
Fan’s journey from child prodigy to Olympic champion and his subsequent choice to prioritize mental health over rankings represents a broader conversation about athlete welfare in professional sports. His legacy extends beyond his technical achievements to include his courage in addressing difficult topics that affect many elite athletes.
Conclusion
Fan Zhendong’s career represents the complete spectrum of elite athletic achievement, from early promise through championship glory to personal growth beyond sport. His technical mastery, developed under the guidance of coaches like Wang Hao and Ma Lin, established him as one of the most complete players in table tennis history.
His 2024 Olympic triumph and subsequent withdrawal from international competition illustrate the complex realities facing modern athletes. Fan’s willingness to prioritize his mental health and personal well-being over traditional measures of success provides an important example for future generations.
Fan Zhendong remains a world-class talent whose explosive footwork and incredible topspin techniques continue to inspire players worldwide. His equipment choices and technical approach offer valuable insights for aspiring players, while his career journey provides lessons that extend far beyond the table tennis court.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE THE FOLLOWING:
DARKO JORGIC EQUIPMENT AND INFO
LIN YUN JU EQUIPMENT AND PLAYING STYLE