Table tennis superstar Fan Zhendong made his Bundesliga debut yesterday (August 31). Although he unfortunately suffered a loss in the match against Bergneustadt at his home court in Saarbrücken, he still ignited the passion of fans worldwide.
On the day of the match, supporters from Germany, France, Austria, China, and other regions gathered at the venue, chanting, "Go, Fan Zhendong!", "We'll always support you!", and "No pressure—just play relaxed!" The cheers echoed throughout, highlighting table tennis's borderless appeal and Fan's global influence. For many fans, the focus extended beyond victory or defeat, centering instead on the sportsmanship demonstrated by the athlete.
To witness Fan's performance, fans traveled great distances—some taking a 3-hour train from Heidelberg, others driving 8 hours from Austria, and some even journeying from far-flung cities like Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
Unlike the atmosphere of typical large-scale events, Mr. Yang, who specially chartered a car from Paris, noted, "The atmosphere here is fantastic, and the proximity to the players is incredible. Matches in Germany, or Europe in general, are like this—they're held in community centers where all kinds of sports take place." This unique event environment allowed fans to experience the excitement up close and truly integrate the sport into local life.
Inside the venue, the number of local German spectators far exceeded expectations, underscoring table tennis's popularity in the region. Ms. Zheng, who attended high school in Germany, shared, "Even back then, Germans would tell me they were going to watch Fan play. So, his popularity here is actually very high, especially among young people." An Austrian couple also cheerfully mentioned that the husband became a fan after seeing Fan's "fierce" playing style during the Austria Open, which prompted them to drive all the way to support him this time.
Beyond the enthusiastic cheers of fans, over 20 Chinese volunteers worked behind the scenes. They managed various roles, including kitchen duties, cashier services, and crowd control, building a solid support network with their actions.
For the fans, the significance of this match went far beyond a simple win or loss. Mr. Yang expressed, "Even though these top players already have a strong backhand system, they still learn from other athletes. This spirit is worthier of our respect and admiration than merely winning matches or earning awards." Another fan, Mr. Wang, added, "Fan's skills don't need to be proven in a match at this level. As long as he enjoys playing, that's what matters."
Some fans hope that Fan's participation will serve as an excellent opportunity to showcase the inclusivity and charm of table tennis to the world, emphasizing that it is a sport for everyone.
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