This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Did he retire?
I have to be honest, most of the stuff on this thread, but especially those trick shots, make me sad. It is kind of depressing that this is what he is up to.

well, it sucks that we don't get to watch Zhang Jike play anymore, but he is just enjoying life now. The dude moved on, it's not really that sadI have to be honest, most of the stuff on this thread, but especially those trick shots, make me sad. It is kind of depressing that this is what he is up to.
well, it sucks that we don't get to watch Zhang Jike play anymore, but he is just enjoying life now. The dude moved on, it's not really that sad![]()
That he moves on, that is not sad. But seeing so much silly stuff, that is sad. I am happy for him to move on. But it is depressing to see his modeling career and stuff like trick shots all catalogued in one place.
I don't think that's fair to his fans, who do support the sport indirectly by being his fans.
Maybe I am overreacting. But it really does make me sad and depressed to see all this.
Sometimes we forget that these athletes have their own lives to live too. Often, table tennis isn't even their first choice of sport, but their physical talent and willpower saw them through a glorious career. You could make the same comment about Zhang Yining for example - she gave it all up very quickly around 2009/10, married a super rich dude, and then went to study in the US. I guess ZJK just prefers being a celebrity to the quiet life.





I don't think that's fair to his fans, who do support the sport indirectly by being his fans.
I would have been with you on this, right up until I attended the 2017 WTTC in Germany (shoutout to Suga D!) and encountered his legions of fanatical followers in person. Because it was clear that they had zero interest in table tennis based on their behavior when he wasn't playing (and which made it hard to watch a match if a bunch suddenly congregated near you). I posted here at the time about it. It was almost creepy.
Also make no mistake, I loved watching ZJK play.