hen Meng of China competes during the women's singles gold medal match of table tennis between Sun Yingsha and Chen Meng of China at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

In the women's singles table tennis final at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Saturday, the partial behavior of some spectators toward the two Chinese players sparked widespread controversy.

Chen Meng and Sun Yingsha won the gold and silver medals respectively in the women's singles table tennis final.

During the competition and the subsequent medal ceremony many spectators showed excessive support for Sun and only cheer for her while neglecting Chen.

The incident has ignited a broader discussion on the impact of fan culture on Chinese table tennis on the internet. It has also attracted international attention, with many foreign observers confused by the apparent favoritism in a match between the two Chinese players.

Despite Chen's dignified performance and remarks after the match, she expressed frustration over the irrational behavior of some spectators.

While it is natural to cheer for one's favored athlete, such support should not lead to the neglect of another competitor, as this undermines the spirit of sportsmanship.

"If Sun wins, she will become the fastest Grand Slam winner in 433 days. She will also be the first post-2000 Grand Slam winner," Du Didi, a fan of Sun, posted on social media.

"But even though I support Sun, I still resist this obvious favoritism. As spectators, we should cheer their wonderful performances, no matter who the champion is. They are all the pride of Chinese table tennis and deserve our respect and support," Du noted.

A fair competition atmosphere should involve respecting every athlete and supporting each representative of the country, rather than one-sided cheering.

In recent years, the infiltration of fan culture has made Chinese table tennis players the focus of media attention.

Excessive fan behaviors have turned sports events into "fan clubs," affecting the fairness of the competition and causing discomfort to genuine table tennis enthusiasts.

"These so-called fans, for the most part, do not understand or appreciate the careers or talents of famous athletes. Instead, they only focus on the athletes' image and appearance," Wang Dazhao, a Beijing-based sports commentator, told the Global Times.

Moreover, such behavior has even crossed into the private lives of athletes, touching legal boundaries. Despite public resistance from the General Administration of Sport of China and the Chinese Olympic Committee, the impact has been limited.

"Those who violate other people's privacy must be punished according to the law, and those who do not violate criminal laws must be warned and guided through active and healthy education," Wang noted.

In response, relevant social media platforms cleaned up thousands of pieces of content related to controversial discussions and malicious attacks.

While these measures have had some effect, the true solution lies in the self-discipline of the spectators.

The role of the audience is not only to cheer passionately but also to respect every athlete who is striving for their dreams.

If one loves table tennis and sports, he should adhere to the spirit of sportsmanship and the Olympic spirit, and truly uphold fairness. Do not bring fan culture into the table tennis arena.

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. life@globaltimes.com.cn