The performance of national table tennis in the WTT Championship has sparked widespread discussion, especially when the women's singles event won the gold medal while the men's singles event failed to achieve their expectations. In this atmosphere, Lin Yunru's unexpected victory was in the spotlight, and his surprise victory put the young player in the center of attention overnight.
After the match, Lin Yunru was interviewed by the media with a smile on his face, and his unexpected victory and joy were obvious. However, just when he should have enjoyed the joy of victory, he was criticized for his choice of language in the interview, with some fans accusing him of flattering foreign reporters because he chose to respond to questions from foreign reporters in English rather than Chinese. In contrast, Ma Long, who always insisted on giving interviews in Chinese under the same circumstances, won the respect of domestic fans.
The controversy sparked discussions about cultural identity and international exchange. Lin Yunru replied in English, perhaps out of respect and convenience for international audiences, but on the other hand, some domestic fans believed that he should use Chinese on any occasion to show national pride.
However, if we look at this from a more tolerant and global perspective, there is nothing wrong with Lin Yunru choosing different languages to communicate in different contexts. Just like Chinese athletes in many other fields, they are being interviewed in English on the international stage to better communicate with a global audience. Therefore, the choice of language of athletes should not be overly criticized, which does not affect their professional performance and respect for the culture.
More importantly, we should not pass on the disappointment of the national table tennis defeat to other athletes. As an excellent table tennis player, Lin Yunru's contribution to the game and his attitude of respecting Chinese culture should not be overlooked. When he participated in training camps and competitions in the mainland, he got along very well with other players and showed his identification with this big family.
The gains and losses of national table tennis should be viewed rationally. When a team loses, we should congratulate the opponent with grace instead of looking for a scapegoat in the emotional swings. For Lin Yunru, despite the controversy brought by this victory, his achievements and efforts deserve recognition. We should appreciate the performance of every athlete on the international stage and give them the respect and encouragement they deserve.