(by Steve Hopkins)

The China Table Tennis Super League (CTTSL) is full of elite talent, and right now Fan Zhendong and his Shanghai Zhongxing squad stands atop the league.  Many had expected some sluggishness from the defending Olympic Champion, but he has won eleven straight matches including two separate wins over World No. 1 Lin Shidong (most recently a 3-0 dominant win).

Fan’s team is Shanghai Zhongxing.  While Fan has been dominant, the team has had mixed results.  Still, they seem to be hovering around third position – potentially setting up an opportunity to reach the playoffs.

Fan will continue to lead Shanghai Zhongxing through the next stage of the CTTSL before heading to Germany to compete for Saarbrücken in the Bundesliga. If any were wondering whether he would be at his best, he has already shown he is up to any challenge.  The real question for China may be whether to push to put Fan Zhendong back on the National Team.  Historically, if one retires from the National Team there is not a path back.  But then, Fan Zhendong is not a typical player – and his results speak for themselves.  Fan Zhendong is the biggest name on the Shanghai Zhongxing team, he is the biggest story in both the Chinese CTTSL and the German TTBL.  Perhaps in 2026, Fan’s return to the world stage will be one of the big stories on the professional tour.

Lots of quality table tennis on tap all week long – we’ll have more updates soon.

Visit ButterflyOnline.com for the latest table tennis news and results.