In a thrilling conclusion to his debut season in Germany, Chinese Olympic champion Fan Zhendong guided Saarbrücken-Tischtennis to a landmark achievement on Sunday, securing the Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) championship and completing a historic treble for the club.
The high-stakes Final4 championship match, held in Frankfurt, saw Saarbrücken defeat Borussia Düsseldorf with a 3-1 victory. Fan was instrumental in the win, claiming both of his singles matches to ensure the title. This triumph marks a crowning moment for the club, which had already lifted the German Cup and the Champions League trophies earlier this season.
The 29-year-old's presence in the league has drawn unprecedented global attention, and he delivered a masterclass in his final appearance for the club before his scheduled move to Düsseldorf next season. Fan opened the final with a commanding victory over German international Dang Qiu and later sealed the championship with a grueling five-set battle against American player Kanak Jha.
While the result earns Saarbrücken its second German championship and cements one of the most successful campaigns in the club's history, Fan remained humble regarding his central role in the success.
"I'm very happy that I was able to help the team with two wins," Fan stated following the victory. "Even when I wasn't able to perform at my best at times during the season, the team was there to step up. That shows what a strong team we are."
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Fan Zhendong helps Saarbrücken win treble with German title triumph
cgtn.com
