Current:Home > reviewsA night in Paris shows how far US table tennis has come – and how far it has to go -NextFrontier Finance
A night in Paris shows how far US table tennis has come – and how far it has to go
Rekubit Exchange View
Date:2025-04-10 09:46:13
PARIS — Between the third and fourth games of the match, a chant resonated through a packed convention hall at the South Paris Arena complex.
Lil-y … clap, clap, clap.
Lil-y … clap, clap, clap.
“It was amazing,” said California’s Lily Zhang.
Yes, table tennis fans – in Europe – were chanting for an American. Not only that, but Zhang also wasn’t the only American who’d play an Olympic round of 16 singles match Wednesday night. A couple hours later, Kanak Jha would become the first U.S. men’s singles player to compete this deep in an Olympic tournament.
2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.
In that sense, it was the type of evening and electric atmosphere that U.S. Table Tennis has been waiting years to enjoy. It showcased how far the sport has quietly progressed in a country where many have played the game of ping pong in a basement or spare room, yet seemingly no one plays table tennis as a world-class sport that requires training, timing, endurance, focus, lighting reflexes and so much mental toughness.
In another way, though, this night at the Paris Games showed how far the sport still has to go in the U.S.
➤ Get Olympics updates in your texts! Join USA TODAY Sports' WhatsApp Channel
After a spirited run in Paris, Zhang was swept in four games by Shin Yu-bin of South Korea, the tournament’s No. 4 seed. Zhang, the No. 19 seed, lost her first seven points and each of the first three games. She had a shot in the fourth but couldn’t convert on two game points and ended up losing the match 11-2, 11-8, 11-4, 15-13.
“Definitely pretty disappointed and heartbroken with the result,” Zhang said, “but I think I really gave it my absolute everything. I fought until the very end.”
Jha didn’t fare much better. Overmatched against the men’s No. 2 overall seed, Fan Zhendong of China, Jha exited 11-4, 11-7, 12-10, 11-7 to end the evening.
“It is very impressive to have two players from the U.S. in the round of 16,” Jha said. “Lily is a more seasoned veteran. I think it's a great result for here, but also, I'm too surprised. ... For myself, I take a lot of confidence in this.”
MORE:Katie Ledecky wins gold medal in 1,500-meter freestyle, sets Olympic record
MORE:Torri Huske stuns with 100 freestyle silver behind Sarah Sjostrom
The run for Jha, 24, was all the more impressive given that he was recently sidelined for 16 months while on a strange suspension.
A drug-tester reportedly couldn’t reach him for mandatory testing because he didn’t include the “+1” in his U.S. phone number on a form, according to Sports Illustrated.
“I am happy how I played,” said Jha, meaning the tournament overall. “I beat some very strong opponents here. I showed, once again, I can challenge almost any opponent in the world at this point being from the USA.”
Zhang, 28, is a professional in her fourth Olympics. She has hinted at the possibility of retirement soon, though she also said after Wednesday night’s match that she’d “never say never” with the 2028 Games being in Los Angeles.
Whether this was it for Zhang or not, she’s already made an impact as perhaps the most accomplished and influential U.S. table tennis player of the Olympic era (dating to 1988). That goes back to when she was 16, making her Olympic debut in London and being featured in the documentary “Top Spin.”
“I've done a lot that I've wanted to do in my career,” she said. “It's been a really fulfilling experience. … Since I first started playing, I've seen the sport grow so much. Now we have a home league even. We've got more professional players. Even though they are small steps, I think it's really necessary and really cool to see.”
That pro league – Major League Table Tennis – launched last year. There are more clubs and players. And as Zhang mentioned, the next Olympics is at home.
Asked what it would take for the U.S. to take more steps and be able to seriously challenge the Asian powers that have long dominated the sport’s elite, Zhang said, “If I had the answers, I would tell you.”
“Overall, it just needs more exposure, more media, more funding, more eyes on us,” Zhang said.
“It would take a long way,” Jah said. “The U.S. is growing. ... We have potential, but we still need time. We need the sport to be bigger in the U.S. The problem is it's not very mainstream. It's not very well known. We need more support. I think it is possible, but it will take some steps.”
Reach Gentry Estes at [email protected] and on social media @Gentry_Estes.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
veryGood! (287)
Related
- How effective is the Hyundai, Kia anti-theft software? New study offers insights.
- Civil War Museum in Texas closing its doors in October; antique shop to sell artifacts
- Alabama lawmaker arrested on domestic violence charge
- Get an Extra 60% Off Nordstrom Rack Clearance: Save 92% With $6 Good American Shorts, $7 Dresses & More
- Eva Mendes Shares Message of Gratitude to Olympics for Keeping Her and Ryan Gosling's Kids Private
- Former Bad Boy artist Shyne says Diddy 'destroyed' his life: 'I was defending him'
- Friends Creators Address Matthew Perry's Absence Ahead of Show's 30th Anniversary
- The politics of immigration play differently along the US-Mexico border
- 'Most Whopper
- Biden opens busy foreign policy stretch as anxious allies shift gaze to Trump, Harris
Ranking
- Opinion: Gianni Infantino, FIFA sell souls and 2034 World Cup for Saudi Arabia's billions
- Spotted: The Original Cast of Gossip Girl Then vs. Now
- How Demi Moore blew up her comfort zone in new movie 'The Substance'
- Katy Perry's new album '143' is 'mindless' and 'uninspired,' per critics. What happened?
- What were Tom Selleck's juicy final 'Blue Bloods' words in Reagan family
- A stranger said 'I like your fit' then posed for a photo. Turned out to be Harry Styles.
- GM recalls 450,000 pickups, SUVs including Escalades: See if your vehicle is on list
- Small town South Carolina officer wounded in shooting during traffic stop
Recommendation
Boy who wandered away from his 5th birthday party found dead in canal, police say
Extra 25% Off Everything at Kate Spade Outlet: Get a $500 Tote Set for $111, $26 Wallets, $51 Bags & More
Small town South Carolina officer wounded in shooting during traffic stop
Moment of Sean Diddy Combs' Arrest Revealed in New Video
North Carolina trustees approve Bill Belichick’s deal ahead of introductory news conference
Two dead, three hurt after a shooting in downtown Minneapolis
Kristen Bell Reveals Husband Dax Shephard's Reaction to Seeing This Celebrity On her Teen Bedroom Wall
When does the new season of 'SNL' come out? Season 50 premiere date, cast, host, more