Published: 09:26, August 22, 2024 | Updated: 11:12, August 22, 2024
China's Olympic golden trio withdraw from WTT Champions in Macao
By Xinhua
China’s Fan Zhendong beats Sweden’s Truls Moregard in the 2024 Olympics men’s table tennis singles final in Paris on Aug 4, completing a prestigious “Grand Slam”.  (photo / reuters and wei xiaohao / china daily)

BEIJING - Chinese paddlers Fan Zhendong, Ma Long and Chen Meng, who won gold medals at the recently concluded Paris Olympic Games, have withdrawn from next month's World Table Tennis (WTT) Champions tournament in Macao, WTT announced on Wednesday.

Consequently, their spots will be filled by their compatriots Lin Gaoyuan, Lin Shidong and Chen Xingtong, respectively, based on world rankings.

Gold medalist Chen Meng (center) of China, silver medalist Sun Yingsha (left) of China and bronze medalist Hayata Hina of Japan attend the award ceremony for the women's singles table tennis event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Aug 3, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

At the Paris Olympics, Fan clinched the men's singles title to become the 11th player overall to have achieved a career Grand Slam of the Olympic Games, World Championships and World Cup, before teaming up with Ma, another Grand Slam winner, and Wang Chuqin to pocket the team gold.

Chen Meng defended her title in the women's singles event and won the team gold along with Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu.

READ MORE: Olympic champ Fan Zhendong not yet thinking about Los Angeles Games

The WTT Champions tournament in Macao will run from Sept 9 to 15, with men's and women's winners garnering 1,000 world ranking points.