Shanghai's Fan Zhendong cemented his dominance in Chinese table tennis by defending his men's singles title at the 15th National Games, defeating Hainan's Lin Shidong 4-1 in a thrilling final held in Macao SAR on November 16. The victory marks Fan's continued ascendancy following his gold medal performance at last year's Paris Olympics.
In a match showcasing both resilience and technical mastery, the 28-year-old Fan overcame an early 9-4 deficit in the opening game with a stunning seven-point streak to claim the first frame 11-9. While 20-year-old Lin made history as Hainan's first National Games finalist by taking the second game 11-8, Fan demonstrated veteran composure to secure the next three games decisively (11-5, 11-3, 11-4).
The event, hosted in Macao SAR for the first time since 2005, highlights China's ongoing efforts to promote sports development across all regions. Analysts note the tournament serves as a key platform for identifying talent ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
