In a surprising turn of events at the Paris Olympics, Kanak Jha of the United States made history by securing the country’s best Olympic run in men’s table tennis. Jha, ranked 120th in the world, reached the last 16 by defeating Panagiotis Gionis of Greece 4-2. This achievement surpassed Jimmy Butler’s round-of-32 appearance at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. U.S. men’s team coach Mark Hazinski emphasized the team’s focus on taking one match at a time and not getting ahead of themselves.
Jha, who received support through GoFundMe to prepare for the Games, expressed relief after his victory. He acknowledged the tough competition he faced and highlighted the importance of staying focused during the match. Despite his impressive performance, Jha later faced a defeat against Tokyo silver medallist Fan Zhendong.
The tournament took a dramatic turn when world No. 1 Wang Chuqin of China suffered a shocking loss to 26th-ranked Truls Moregard of Sweden in the round of 32. Wang, who had won the gold in mixed doubles the day before, admitted to feeling down after the unexpected defeat. Moregard continued his dream run by defeating Kao Cheng-Jui 4-1 and advancing to the quarterfinals, showcasing his talent and determination.
In another notable match, Luxembourg’s 61-year-old Ni Xia Lian, competing in her sixth Olympics, was eliminated in the women’s singles after a 4-0 loss to world No. 1 Sun Yingsha of China. Despite her age, Lian had previously made history by becoming the oldest player to win a table tennis match in the Olympics.
French sensation Felix Lebrun, a 17-year-old rising star in the sport, impressed spectators by reaching the last eight after defeating Dimitrij Ovtcharov 4-3. Despite facing pressure and squandering a 3-0 lead, Lebrun managed to stay composed and secure the victory. His brother, Alexis Lebrun, faced a 4-1 defeat against Hugo Calderano of Brazil.
The emotional rollercoaster of the Olympics was evident in Adriana Díaz of Puerto Rico, who was supported by fellow countrymen Daddy Yankee and Bad Bunny. Diaz couldn’t hold back tears after losing a 4-3 match to Pyon Song Gyong of North Korea in women’s singles, despite initially leading 3-0.
Defending champion Chen Meng of China continued her dominance by defeating „Supermom“ Britt Eerland of the Netherlands 4-1 to reach the quarterfinals. Eerland, one of the Olympians who are also parents, utilized GoFundMe to aid in her preparation for the Games.
The Paris Olympics table tennis competition showcased a mix of upsets, emotional moments, and impressive performances, highlighting the resilience and talent of athletes from around the world. As the tournament progresses, fans can expect more thrilling matches and unexpected outcomes in this highly competitive sport.