Chinese aces enjoy a smashing time

陈小将

For table tennis Olympic champion Ma Long, when he was in his 20s, every match was a battle he aimed to win. But, as he approaches his 36th birthday, his perspective has shifted.

Now, he's learned to savor the game.

In the opening round of the men's singles at the World Table Tennis China Smash in Beijing, he made a heartfelt entrance, holding the hands of his two sons — fulfilling a long-held wish to have them watch him compete in person.

On Sunday, after a grueling seven-game final where he lost to his 19-year-old teammate Lin Shidong, Ma left the court with a smile.

"I wouldn't call this a loss," Ma reflected. "Standing on this stage and making it to the final, it's already a success, something beyond what I imagined."

The six-time Olympic gold medalist hinted that this match could mark his final appearance on the international stage.

"After so many competitions, I've started to think about what comes next. The World Table Tennis Smash series holds a special place in my heart, and this one in Beijing feels like the perfect ending," he said.

Ma says that he hopes his legacy will be more than just about his titles — that fans will remember his enduring love for the sport as well.

The first time a WTT Grand Smash event has been held in China, the inaugural WTT China Smash wrapped up on Sunday at Beijing's Shougang Park, with the host sweeping the competition in a display reminiscent of its dominance at the Paris Games.

The China Smash also marked the first time a top-tier international table tennis event has been held in Beijing since the city hosted the World Championships in 1961.

The Chinese squad claimed both the champion and runner-up positions across all five categories — men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles.

The finalists in each event demonstrated the depth of China's table tennis team, underscoring its preparation for the new Olympic cycle leading up to the 2028 Los Angeles Games.