Feeling the love: Fan gets outpouring of support despite mixed Champs League finals display
Chinese table tennis player had to rely on his teammates to help secure the Champions League title for his German side 1. FC Saarbruecken
There was no loss of love for Fan Zhendong after his 1. FC Saarbruecken team retained their Champions League men’s title on Sunday, despite the Chinese table tennis star losing both of his matches.
Powered by Olympic silver medallist Truls Moregard, the German side, playing at home, overcame French rivals Alliance Nimes/Montpellier 3-2 in a dramatic final at the Saarlandhalle.
And while not involved with the China national team, state broadcaster CCTV, and six other different platforms screened the matches, drawing more than 1.9 million accumulated viewers alone for Saturday’s semi-final, where Fan dominated in a 3-1 win over Polish side KS Orlen Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki.
The total number of viewers set a record for table tennis events outside the Olympic Games, the World Championship and the World Cup.
Fan struggled in the final, losing 3-0 in the opening and fourth rubbers to brothers Alexis and Felix Lebrun. However, key wins from Moregard and Darko Jorgic sealed Saarbruecken a fourth consecutive Champions League title.
“It’s my first time playing in the Final Four, so it’s a very special moment for me too, even if I didn’t contribute to my team,” said Fan, who signed for Saarbruecken last June but will switch to fellow Bundesliga club Borussia Dusseldorf in July.