Fan Zhendong of China competes during Men's Singles Gold Medal Match of table tennis at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 2, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)
Chinese paddler Fan Zhendong who bagged two golds and a silver at his third Asian Games is now focusing on earning a spot for the Paris Olympics. For him, technical improvement knows no bounds.
HANGZHOU, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- With two golds and a silver in his third Asian Games, along with being a torch bearer at the opening ceremony, table tennis world champion Fan Zhendong has reasons to cherish some pleasant memories about Hangzhou.
Fan, a familiar face atop the world rankings in recent years, claimed the men's team and doubles golds before succumbing in an all-Chinese singles final to Wang Chuqin at the Hangzhou Asiad.
"I'm quite eager to get the doubles title as I have never won it before. I'm happy that I made it," the 26-year-old told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.
"As for the team event, which is the most important, I have gradually played a bigger role and have been accustomed to it slowly. I hope I can do better," he added.
After his loss to Wang, three years his junior, Fan failed to defend his Asiad title in the singles category, but he didn't let the disappointment overwhelm him.
"I hope to perform well in every match. Both of us played excellently in the final and the score was quite close, so the game was almost on a par," said the world No. 1.
Wang Chuqin (R) shakes hands with Fan Zhendong after the men's singels final at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 2, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)
It was the fourth head-to-head encounter between the two paddlers in 2023. Fan had won all previous three matches, including his 4-2 win against Wang in the World Championships final in Durban, South Africa in May to retain his title.
Fan feels there's something to draw from his latest duel with Wang.
"The two finals (at the World Championships and Asian Games) were quite close, and it depends on who deals with some crucial points better. Wang just executed better this time," Fan admitted.
"After the match was dragged into a deciding game, everything was possible. Looking back, how I dealt with some points when leading in the game, maybe they are not the best choice, and I need to summarize it."
Despite holding the top spot in the world rankings for quite a long time, Fan didn't take his stable performances over the last several years for granted.
"Nobody is always playing without any up and down, and nobody is always winning. I just approach every tournament with reverence, and I would lose the game if I fared below par. Even though I played well, I was not 100 percent sure of winning it.
"This is just the glamor of competitive sports," he commented.
Reflecting on his experience of carrying the torch in the stadium at the opening ceremony, his first time undertaking this role, Fan said, "It's a recognition and an honor for me. I feel thrilled about being the torch bearer."
Fan Zhendong celebrates in the men's singles semifinals against Jang Woojin of South Korea at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 2, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)
Looking ahead, Fan plans to divide his goals into long-term and short-term ones. "Whether in physical or mental aspects, I just hope for excellent performance in every match where I compete," he noted.
With fewer than 300 days remaining until the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Fan acknowledged it's a grand stage every athlete yearns for, focusing now on earning a spot in the Olympics through positive competition within the Chinese team.
"After that (securing the spot), I will consider my performance at the Paris Olympics and making specific preparations for it," he said.
Ma Long, arguably the greatest table tennis player of all time, hinted the Hangzhou Asiad might be his swan song at the quadrennial event as the 34-year-old only competed in the team event in his fourth Asian Games appearance.
Fan, who is seen as the pillar of the Chinese men's team post Ma Long's anticipated retirement, shared his views about the legend of the sport.
"Respect towards captain Long. With many achievements under his belt, he still has much will to fight at his age; he sets an example for every athlete with his fighting spirit, including for me. I've learnt a lot from him, which has hugely benefitted me along my way of growth," said Fan.
For Fan, technical improvement knows no bounds. "It's about your everyday training, but more than that, I hope to improve my mindset towards each game and my career. I want to strive for every championship, rather than being restrained by a certain match or title," he said.
"Win or loss, it's just a part of your career. I hope that I can better approach each competition and gain more energy from it," he concluded. ■
