Fan Zhendong, the men's singles gold medalist in table tennis at the Paris Olympics, has temporarily disappeared from WTT events, but there is a possibility of returning. In the first phase of the 2025 world rankings announced by the ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation) on December 31 last year, men's players Fan Zhendong (6th, December), Ma Long (8th), and women's Chen Meng (4th) disappeared.

Through the golden ticket system, Olympic gold medalist Fan Zhendong can participate in major events

Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng announced their withdrawal on SNS on December 27. Fan Zhendong said: "According to the new penalty rules of WTT, we can only choose to leave. Chen Meng also said: "The physical condition is not very good. "The provision is that if you attend another congress during the week in which the Assembly abstains, the fine is doubled.

On the other hand, the Chinese Table Tennis Association hinted at the possibility of the return of the three players in a statement on December 31. As the CEO of WTT, Liu Guoliang also said: "You can play with a wild card. "Fan Zhendong, in particular, is considered to be a measure taken to avoid penalties and deprive points of points.

In response to WTT's intensive schedule and severe penalties, criticism has been heard from players and fans alike. On 11 February, following the 2025 WTT Singapore Grand Slam, the ITTF said: "Olympic gold medallists will receive a special opportunity (Golden Ticket) to participate in all WTT Majors and six WTT Championships. This privilege will be valid for four years after winning the Olympic Games. "It's uncertain whether the Olympic gold medallists will only refer to singles or include team and mixed doubles. Either way, the three Olympic gold medalists will be able to play at the WTT Grand Slam (the remaining three tournaments in 2025) and the six WTT Championships as "Golden Tickets".