On Nov. 15, the men's singles semifinals of China's 15th National Games saw an intense showdown between two table tennis stars, Fan Zhendong and Wang Chuqin, who were teammates in the Paris Olympics gold medal-winning squad. Fan clinched a hard-fought 4-2 victory, earning his place in the highly anticipated gold medal match. The six sets concluded with scores of 7-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5, and 11-7.
Wang Chuqin, despite his valiant effort, admitted post-match that there were moments in the fourth and sixth sets where he could have performed better. "I was just one step short," Wang said, adding that he plans to recalibrate and give his all in the upcoming team events.
When asked during the post-match interview about his frequent reliance on his backhand strategy, Fan Zhendong explained that table tennis is a dynamic sport requiring constant tactical adjustments. "Every match is a battle of wits, with both sides making calculated decisions on the spot," Fan said. He also emphasized the importance of both courage and execution in critical moments, which he credited as key factors in his victory.
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