Fan zhendong, Ma Long and Cheng Meng announces Retirement from WTT/ITTF

[RefereeNumber2]

that is correct

he could technically unretire, and restart with 0 rating point.
win one major, and get 1000 points and back in the top in the world.

But what is the purpose to that?
maybe I should check if I should organize leagues for him in Europe

Would the CNT even allow him to do that? I would guess it partly depends on whether his "retirement" is with the blessing of leadership or a rogue move on his part.

I would be surprised if the CNT wanted him to retire given the current lack of depth behind him. On the other hand, couldn't the CNT simply have covered the fines for non-participation if they wanted him to stay active? Maybe this is just a cheaper way of having him take a more extended break before coming back for the world championships, while avoiding/negating the zero point penalties...

It seems unlikely, but I hope he just moves to Europe and brings some of the Chinese ecosystem with him. It could end up being good for the sport internationally.

 

[piligrim]

Who will be in team A now? WCQ, LSD and LJK? Xiang Peng?

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

CM also made her own announcement just a while ago.

https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5116196261467443

JJH joins the retirement party:

Retirement Of South Korea's Table Tennis Star Jeon Ji-hee Raises Eyebrows

Jeon Ji-hee, one of the most successful naturalized players to represent South Korea, has officially announced her retirement from competitive table tennis. She…

evrimagaci.org

 

[jfolsen]

This reminds me of Bjorn Borg. One of the many reasons he retired (at age 25 having won 11 grand slams) is because he was told by the ATP that if he didn't play a certain number of tournaments he would have to play qualifying rounds to play the Slams. He couldn't decide for himself how often he was going to play without incurring penalties. Sound familiar?

 

[NextLevel]

Who will be in team A now? WCQ, LSD and LJK? Xiang Peng?

There is no reason why they can't field Fan, especially in team events. He is just tired of the WTT shuffle.

 

[piligrim]

There is no reason why they can't field Fan, especially in team events. He is just tired of the WTT shuffle.

Someone should play WTT events

 

[Sims]

Honestly I don't think so, I think this generation including ZJK and XuXIN is the greatest, the new generation LeBrun and Truls don't do it for me , even if I reckon they are very very good players. The new CNT members just the same , WCQ for me feel slike just any other match of any two pros

LSD could yet surpass FZD and Timo. Ma Long is a once every 50 yrs kind of player but then again everyone thought Federer at 25 was going to be unbeatable for a decade until Nadal, then Djokovic and even Murray came and matched the level.
Don't despair, there are so many super talented and hungry young players coming through that the competition and standard will be maintained. Quite whether we come to love the new characters is another thing but the game looks to have a safe future for now

 

[NextLevel]

FZD can still surpass Ma Long, he can win a couple more WTTCs and another gold in 2028.

 

[Gozo Aruna]

旧的不去新的怎么来呢
( If the old does not go, how can the new come about? )

I am excited to see new emerging playstyle from the young turks...

 

[Gtsnake]

that is correct

he could technically unretire, and restart with 0 rating point.
win one major, and get 1000 points and back in the top in the world.

But what is the purpose to that?
maybe I should check if I should organize leagues for him in Europe

If FZD played in the Bundeslige that would be like Michael Jordan playing in Euro basketball. You would probably have double the attendance.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

It's clear to me based on the recent post translation that he hasn't retired from WTT permanently. He has the Olympic medal as leverage and can return to the tour on his own terms in a year or two or just be nominated by China to play if necessary.

Anyone can choose to play again, provided a MA enters you.
Zhu is clear example

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

There is no reason why they can't field Fan, especially in team events. He is just tired of the WTT shuffle.

He retired from all ittf and wtt sanctioned events.
He would no need un-retire to play teams

 

[NextLevel]

He retired from all ittf and wtt sanctioned events.
He would no need un-retire to play teams

For now. And it is really a WTT fines protest. China can still field him if they want to or are willing to psy his fines.

 

[Robin0910]

FZD can still surpass Ma Long, he can win a couple more WTTCs and another gold in 2028.

If he wins the next 2 world champs and the Olympics in 2028 he will surpass him. I wouldn’t bet money on it tho

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

For now. And it is really a WTT fines protest. China can still field him if they want to or are willing to psy his fines.

Yes
By entering a new player registration form with ittf/wtt

Until then, fzd is not an active player that ctta can not just enter without additional formalities

Waiting for ctta statement on this issue

PS no changes to wtt rules on this part, since it is the same as 2024 and earlier.
So things are a bit confusing

 

[Janard]

Imagine if FZD re-enters 6mths or a year later, starts from qualifications, makes it to the main draw and wins WCQ in the Round of 32 loll.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Imagine if FZD re-enters 6mths or a year later, starts from qualifications, makes it to the main draw and wins WCQ in the Round of 32 loll.

i would love that haha.

however, imagine starting from feeders... lol
who ever gets FZD draw, would be the most unlucky feeder players ever

or just maybe, he gets champions wild card and starts off winning1000 points

 

[Shine]

It'd be weird for FZD or ML to sit out all the WTT tournaments throughout the year, but appear only in the WTTC or team events. The impression would be that China isn't taking TT seriously, and other member associations wouldn't react kindly. Besides, competitive TT requires that you play against the toughest challengers to try out new things against them, and to get valuable video info. ML & FZD cannot just sit out all WTT tournaments and expect to play well in the team tournaments. Table tennis thankfully has evolved past that.

With the recent video of LGL talking about the team's goals for the new Olympic cycle being to introduce more young players in the main tournaments. And that the first year is a year of exploration and trial. I think it's obvious where this is heading, China is moving on, It's most likely an end of an era.

 

[zeio]

Assuming PRK will indeed send Kim Kum Yong and Pyon Song Gyong to Singapore Smash 2025 (KOR: The bill is on us again...), that means even they acknowledge the "handicap" in seeding, especially for team event, is too much of a tradeoff going forward.

 

[kapahoo]

It'd be weird for FZD or ML to sit out all the WTT tournaments throughout the year, but appear only in the WTTC or team events. The impression would be that China isn't taking TT seriously, and other member associations wouldn't react kindly.

Or they are taking TT too seriously to be kidnapped by the WTT circus. Just another perspective.