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The "prestige" of the host players and the "face" of Chinese table tennis|New Voice of Sports

2024-08-07

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Like a national hero, Felix Lebrun, who won the bronze medal in men's singles table tennis at the Paris Olympics, was cheered on by the audience in Hall 4 of the South Paris Arena. After winning the bronze medal match, the 17-year-old French table tennis star has become a hero in this country.

A few days ago, Felix Lebrun met Fan Zhendong in the men's singles semi-finals. The French reporter sitting next to the New Yellow River reporter was extremely nervous during the game. After Felix Lebrun lost, he said to the New Yellow River reporter with a look of disappointment: "For a 17-year-old kid, the pressure of such a game may be too much."

On the afternoon of August 4, local time, Felix Lebrun defeated Brazilian player Hugo Calderano 4-0 and returned the support of all French audiences with a bronze medal. In this match, Felix Lebrun, who played at home, really enjoyed the "prestige" of the host player - French reporters filled the media seats early, and the audience cheered for his every score with thunderous applause and cheers. After the game, the audience stood up and shouted Felix Lebrun's name over and over again. Felix Lebrun also rushed to the stands to celebrate this remarkable achievement with his family.

Cheering, singing, waving national flags, stomping on the stands... the French audience at the scene was enthusiastic. But it is worth noting that their cheering was "relaxed and in moderation" and did not interfere with the game, and they did not boo their opponents.

On the previous match day, on this field, Sun Yingsha and Chen Meng staged a "China Derby" in the women's singles final. An unacceptable situation occurred on the scene - Chen Meng was booed when she scored, and when she won the gold medal, the audience also made extremely unfriendly gestures. In that game, Sun Yingsha seemed to be "playing at home", but Chen Meng seemed to be "surrounded by enemies". Such a situation in a highly anticipated "China Derby" has sparked widespread discussion. Foreign spectators and reporters watching the game on the scene were all confused by this. This is why many foreign reporters kept asking Sun Yingsha and Chen Meng questions about this topic after the game, trying to find the reason for this abnormal phenomenon. To some extent, Chinese table tennis lost "face" in Hall 4 of the South Paris Arena.

What is equally hard to accept is that the various doubts, accusations, and even conspiracy theories about Chen Meng on social media after the game did not dissipate just because she won that weighty gold medal.

The Chinese table tennis team is regarded as the "hardest hit area" where fan circle chaos infringes on the sports field. The spread of "fan circle" chaos has previously made Fan Zhendong and Wang Chuqin intolerable. Wang Manyu also encountered "equal treatment" from Chen Meng when she played "China Derby" with Sun Yingsha. It is really hard to accept that athletes who fight for the honor of the motherland are "insulted and harmed"!

It is the audience's freedom to cheer for any athlete. They may have bought their tickets and made plans early, just to be there to cheer for their idols. But booing an opponent is absolutely unacceptable behavior - this is undoubtedly contrary to the spirit of sports and the spirit of the Olympics. In a previous interview with the media, Chinese table tennis star Deng Yaping once said: "Now there is such a so-called 'fan circle culture'. You can like an athlete you like, and you can also like the sport because he (she) likes it. Sports can bring us physical and mental health, and it is a good means of socializing. We just need to say who we like, and we don't need to attack anyone. We must respect each other and leave room for others to be free."

The abnormal "fan circle culture" that persists despite repeated bans is not just the collective unconscious behavior of fanatical fans, but also the shadows of relevant stakeholders behind it. We must pay enough attention and be vigilant to this.

The glory of Chinese table tennis is not only on the field, but also in the stands. After Fan Zhendong defeated Swedish rising star Moregaard, the Chinese table tennis team has won three gold medals in Paris. It is expected that the Chinese table tennis team will continue to move forward firmly in the future, and the Chinese table tennis fans who have gotten rid of the pollution of "fan circle culture" can also regain the "face" for Chinese table tennis.

Reporter: Yao Zheng Editor: Li Fujie Photographer: Xinhua News Agency Proofreader: Li Li

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