Chinese table tennis champion stripped of US$45,000 prize after 'shameful' celebration
A Chinese Olympic table tennis champion has been stripped of US$45,000 in prize money after he damaged advertising hoardings during an overenthusiastic victory celebration.
A Chinese world and Olympic table tennis champion may face further action after being stripped of US$45,000 in prize money for damaging advertising hoardings during overenthusiastic victory celebrations at a tournament in Germany.
Reigning men’s singles world and Olympic champion Zhang Jike kicked an advertising hoarding next to the court, breaking it, after beating fellow Chinese player Ma Long in the Liebherr Men’s World Cup final in Dusseldorf on Sunday.
He than ran to the opposite side of the arena and shattered a second advertising board with a flying kick, before stripping off his shirt and throwing it into the crowd.
Zhang fought back from three games down to overcome Olympic teammate Ma in a seven-game match, handing Ma his first defeat this year.
“I am very sorry for what I did,” Zhang said following the ITTF’s decision. “It was not acceptable behaviour and I am sorry.”
Liu Guoliang, head coach of the Chinese men’s table tennis team, said he was shocked and shamed by Zhang’s actions.
A spokesman for the Chinese Table Tennis Association on Tuesday told the that it will decide if further punishment is necessary after the national team returns from Germany later this week.
More than 64 per cent of respondents said the ITTF’s decision to withhold the prize money was acceptable, however.
Zhang, 26, is the reigning world and Olympic champion, and the only man in history to achieve a career grand slam simultaneously, winning the World Table Tennis Championship, World Cup and Olympic titles in the 2011-2012 season.