Chinese table tennis star Wang Chuqin took to social media in the early hours of today (May 8) to urge fans to focus on the national team’s matches instead of organizing birthday celebrations for him.
“Hello everyone. As my birthday approaches, I do not advocate for, nor will I participate in, any form of birthday fan events. The best support you can give me is to pay attention to the matches. Let’s cheer for Team China together!” Wang Chuqin wrote on his personal social media account.
Public records show that Wang Chuqin’s birthday is on May 11, which falls next Monday. In recent years, some fan groups have organized birthday events to show support for athletes, but certain activities have sparked public debate. By making his stance clear ahead of his birthday this year, Wang Chuqin is also guiding his fans in a positive direction.
Meanwhile, the Chinese men’s table tennis team is set to face South Korea again in the quarterfinals at the World Team Table Tennis Championships in London. The schedule for May 8 has been released, with the men’s team aiming to secure a spot in the semifinals. In the women’s quarterfinals the previous day, the Chinese women’s team defeated South Korea to advance to the semifinals.