China News Service, Beijing, January 22 (Di Yingxuan) If you compare your career to a game, then 2024 must be the most critical game for Fan Zhendong.

　　Fan Zhendong, who has already won the World Cup and World Championships, is only one Olympic gold medal away from a singles Grand Slam.

Therefore, the Paris Olympics in July this year has naturally become the match point that he needs to grasp most.

　　In Tokyo in 2021, Fan Zhendong, who played in the Olympics for the first time, served as the single player in the team competition and successfully defended the half zone in the singles competition.

Even if he failed to stand on the highest podium in singles at the age of 24, Fan Zhendong's performance can definitely be described as outstanding.

  Fan Zhendong competes in the Tokyo Olympics.

　　On the way from Tokyo to Paris, Fan Zhendong grew at a speed visible to the naked eye.

More than a month after the Tokyo Olympics, Fan Zhendong reversed the game and defeated Ma Long in the National Games men's team final, leading the Guangdong team to win another championship after 24 years.

In November of the same year, Fan Zhendong went all the way in Houston and won the World Table Tennis Championships singles championship trophy.

  Fan Zhendong takes photos at the men's singles award ceremony of the World Table Tennis Championships in Houston.

Photo by China News Service reporter Liu Guanguan

　　Compared with rocket-like soaring into the sky, Fan Zhendong feels that his changes are more like "gathering sand to form a tower". There are no shocking mutations, but every particle counts and every particle is precious.

Now Fan Zhendong has maintained the year-end number one in the world for four consecutive years. His "tower" has been piled high enough, and at the age of 27, he has reached the optimal combination of experience and body.

　　It's just that this stage is often the stage when players face transformation, and the key to winning the game gradually transitions from impact to tactics.

At the end of 2023, Fan Zhendong encountered challenges at this stage. His performance at the Chengdu Mixed Team World Cup and the WTT Doha Men's Finals had ups and downs.

  Fan Zhendong in the mixed team World Cup.

Photo by China News Service reporter Yi Haifei

　　There are many factors that cause ups and downs, including the impact of injuries.

Since the end of last year, Fan Zhendong has been troubled by a right shoulder injury.

After surviving the Mixed Team World Cup and the Men's Finals, Fan Zhendong withdrew from the Doha Star Challenge due to injury. This was also the rare time in his sports career that he requested to withdraw during the game.

　　In terms of mentality, Fan Zhendong also admitted that his desire to compete has not yet been adjusted to the best position, and he feels that his control of the game is not as good as in the first half of 2023.

　　The countdown to the Paris Olympics has entered, and Fan Zhendong does not have enough time to adjust.

But the emergence of problems is often accompanied by a turning point. Facing the problem head-on at this time may help him let go of some baggage and pressure.

At present, Fan Zhendong's team selection points are still among the top two. Before the Busan World Table Tennis Championships team competition in February, he still has a rare period of training time to make some adjustments and reflections.

　　Of course, even if the problem still exists, we can fully believe and look forward to the next ball played by this 27-year-old boy.

On his birthday, Fan Zhendong responded to the platform’s birthday wishes with a piece of English lyrics from the South Africa World Cup promotional song “Waving Flag”.

In the World Cup in South Africa 14 years ago, the Spanish team won the Hercules Cup as they wished.

And going back four years, this Matador team was only in the top 16 of the World Cup.

  Fan Zhendong’s social media screenshots

　　This song is accompanied by passionate drumbeats from beginning to end, as Fan Zhendong replied: "As I continue to grow, I will become stronger. People call me the name of freedom, just like a flying flag." (End)