World’s Best Table Tennis Player Faces Setback After Photographer Destroys Prized Paddle

The Olympic Games Paris 2024 is underway. On July 30, Team China’s 24-year-old table tennis player and “the world’s best table tennis player,” Wang Chuqin, won his first Olympic gold medal with his teammate Sun Yingsha against North Korea’s Jong Sik Ri and Kum Yong Kim. Yet, his excitement was soon crushed by an unexpected event.

Wang’s most prized paddle, which is needed for his singles and team events, got destroyed by a photographer. Wang had tossed it in the media’s direction while he posed for photos. Consequently, it was apparently stepped on as the press swarmed in. Excited photographers rushed to capture the winning moment, and unfortunately, Wang’s paddle was damaged as a result, as it’s made of wood.

The paddle used to win the Olympic gold was trampled and broken by reporters rushing into the coaches' area. 😩#Olympics #Paris2024 #TableTennis #WangChuqin pic.twitter.com/3wfvxxvhiq

— 鳳凰資訊 PhoenixTV News (@PhoenixTV_News) July 31, 2024

これはヤバい。。

卓球混合ダブルス決勝、中国ペアが北朝鮮ペアに勝って金メダル
→メディア陣が押し寄せた際に踏まれた？かなにかで王楚欽のラケットが折れる

卓球のラケットは木製なので、選手専用の特注ラケットを何十本も用意して、一番良い1本を五輪に持ってきたはず。

どう責任とるのこれ。。 pic.twitter.com/nefytgquCK

— 大丸🏓スマート卓球ジム (@daimaru_hiroya) July 30, 2024

Chinese pair Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha captured the gold medal for the table tennis mixed doubles event at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday.

After the match, Wang found his paddle – crucial for his singles and team events – had been damaged by excited photographers. pic.twitter.com/Iqz9ANLnFF

— Hong Kong Satellite TV (@hk_stv) July 31, 2024

Wang was upset when he realized what happened to his paddle, shouting at photographers. But he attempted to regain composure despite the tragedy. His coach even tried to console him with a hug and words.

Wang Chuqin, who won the first gold medal for the Chinese table tennis team at the Paris Olympics, had his monumental finals paddle broken by a cameraman who stepped on it.

Wang was angry about it but ultimately had to accept it.😂 pic.twitter.com/AFYzXo0iJv

— ShanghaiPanda (@thinking_panda) July 31, 2024

China table tennis player Wang Chuqin felt angry and helpless after his racket was maliciously damaged. We were very saddened by this person.#ParisOlympics2024 #Paris2024Olympic #Paris2024 #WangChuqin #PingPong #Paris24 pic.twitter.com/XQSk472aZ4

— Lmao. (@xmgz10597) July 31, 2024

#WangChuqin: “They probably didn’t mean to. I can’t do anything about it since it’s already happened. I will use my replacement paddle and play well in the next matches. I think… this is God’s will” https://t.co/M4o8pqzozm pic.twitter.com/ZYVjIWLZjv

— 🏓 (@sys_wcq) July 30, 2024

Wang and his partner Sun have claimed the mixed doubles gold medal and secured a loyal fanbase. Many of their fans have also expressed anger toward the photographers via Weibo and other social media. Multiple photographers have been blamed and accused of intentionally breaking the paddle, especially after Wang’s recent game.

After the Olympic Photographer No 3488 intentionally break Wang chuqin’s rackets, this female Olympic Photographer No 1717 deliberately hit #WangChuqin and left without apology.
We need justice ! @Paris2024 @Olympics is this how you treat the olympian? #Paris2024 #OlympicGames pic.twitter.com/wjWqypkP73

— LeLiu (@LeLiu323) July 31, 2024

This Man broke Wang Chuqin’s ROCKET deliberately。#Paris2024 #WangChuqin #The Olympic Sprits pic.twitter.com/WGkjAZYvjj

— ピピダン（皮蛋） (@PiggyRomi) July 31, 2024

While Wang was optimistic he would still do well with his back-up paddle, it appears he was affected after losing his prized paddle. Less than 24 hours later, he lost while competing in the marquee men’s single tournament. In the round of 32, world rank #1 Wang dropped the first two sets to world rank #26 player Truls Moregard of Sweden. Wang failed to reach the round of 16.

Absolute insanity!!!

Sweden’s world number 26 Truls Moregard has just dumped out China’s WORLD NUMBER 1 Wang Chuqin from the men’s singles competition!!!#Paris2024 #Olympics pic.twitter.com/bUXljSTIX4

— Matthew Mohan (@MatthewMohanCNA) July 31, 2024

Big table tennis this morning at the Arena Paris Sud 🤯
World No. 1 Wang Chuqin is knocked out of the singles draw by Sweden's Truls Moregard! 🇸🇪

We'll be keeping a close eye on the end of the tournament 🍿
–
Grosse sensation ce matin en tennis de table 🤯
Le n°1 mondial Wang… pic.twitter.com/T19vcQAbsb

— Paris 2024 (@Paris2024) July 31, 2024

Consequently, China will not win gold and silver in men’s singles for the first time since 2004.