Fan Zhendong condemns ‘battlefield’ of China’s toxic fan culture
Intrusive behaviour has caused stress, table tennis star says in television interview
Table tennis superstar Fan Zhendong has voiced a wish for the public to dampen down China’s so-called toxic fan culture, saying it had caused him anxiety.
Fan spoke out in a television interview screened during the second leg of the Chinese Table Tennis Super League in Fujian, which ended on Monday with the Olympic champion having been dominant.
The 28-year-old from Guangzhou said fans’ actions sometimes hurt not only athletes but also teams, teammates, friends and families.
“To this day, I still can’t get over it, and I still think that they shouldn’t be in this place that should be pure,” Fan told Phoenix TV in a 26-minute interview that he shared on Chinese social media.
“Sport should not be reduced to a battlefield for fans. It belongs to love, passion, persistence and unity.”