On December 27, two of China’s biggest table tennis stars, Olympic champions Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng, announced they were pulling out of the world rankings. And why? Well, apparently, it’s because of these new fines introduced by World Table Tennis (WTT) for players who don’t compete in certain events. Zhendong, the current Olympic men’s singles champion, declared that he simply cannot afford these fines. But here comes the contradiction, he’s not even thinking of retiring. He’s still going to race, he just won’t be doing so in those WTT meets any longer. Does that make sense?

And then Chen Meng, who also won the Olympics gold, said she is out of these rankings too. She said that her body cannot compete at that level right now and that she had to make a difficult decision to retire. So, it left us wondering: are these new rules fair to athletes who are dealing with injuries or just can’t keep up with the schedule? However, the case thickens when Simon Gauzy, the French table tennis player shares a tweet on X saying, “WTT, new year is coming, it’s time to take good resolutions. It’s never too late.” 

In response to this tweet, Xiaoyua addressed the situation on X, saying, “Dear Simon athletes, this is a statement issued by WTT on the Chinese Internet platform on the withdrawal of Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng. It includes interpretations and supplements to the provisions of WTT. Please check and judge whether it is reasonable and malicious. Bless you.” He even shared two pictures to accompany the message, offering more insight into the WTT’s position on the matter.

The statement from World Table Tennis (WTT) aimed to clarify several points about the regulations and the recent controversy. First, they emphasized that the rules regarding automatic entry into top-tier events, such as WTT Grand Smashes and Finals, were not new. These rules have been in place since WTT’s creation, intended to ensure that the best players participate in major events. They also explained that penalties for non-participation are in place to maintain the integrity of these events and to ensure fans, organizers, and broadcast partners can rely on top-level competition.

Looking ahead, the 2025 WTT Handbook introduces key changes, including an overall 20% increase in prize pools and adjustments to fines for withdrawing from WTT events in favor of non-WTT events. Interestingly, the new rules will no longer impose fines on players who withdraw from a WTT event but compete in a non-WTT event during the same week. Furthermore, the entire 2025 calendar will be confirmed and published in advance, giving players more clarity to plan their schedules.

WTT emphasized its commitment to supporting players and maintaining a fair and competitive environment, expressing hope that Fan and Chen may return to WTT events in the future. However, the question remains: how much would Fan and Chen have been fined under the rules?

The penalties behind the Olympic champions’ withdrawals

Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng, both of them posted screenshots of their official applications, and it quickly caught everyone’s attention. Fans were left wondering, “Wait, these two aren’t competing anymore?” The reason? A new WTT rule that fines top-ranked players like them $5,000 every time they withdraw from a tournament. The fine is just one part of the problem: the new rules make it harder for athletes to back out of tournaments without facing serious penalties.

But the real reason behind their decision goes beyond the fines. After winning Olympic gold, both athletes have already achieved everything they could dream of in their sport. At 27 and 30, Fan and Chen have been through a grueling schedule for years. They’ve won titles, medals, and accolades, and now they’re just looking for something different. Since the Olympics, they’ve both been cutting back on their competition schedules, spending more time traveling, taking photos, and even exploring other activities outside of table tennis.

Stepping away from the world rankings feels like a natural move for them. It’s not about quitting the sport entirely, they’re still open to domestic competitions and exhibition matches. But after all they’ve accomplished, the physical and mental toll of the sport has taken its toll, and they’re done with the non-stop international grind. Instead of continuing to rack up fines just to meet tournament demands, they’ve chosen to take a break, enjoy their hard-earned success, and explore life beyond the table.