A three-year-old table tennis prodigy in China is captivating social media with his impressive skills. - Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin
BEIJING: A three-year-old toddler in China has taken the internet by storm with a viral video showcasing his impressive table tennis skills played on a home coffee table, demonstrating remarkable forehand and backhand techniques.
Many have hailed him as a future Olympic champion, with some even dubbing him the “next Fan Zhendong”, referring to China’s two-time table tennis gold medallist from the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The video, posted on October 4 by Douyin blogger Xiaowu Richang, who has over 200,000 followers, has generated widespread attention, amassing more than 3.3 million likes.
In the video, the boy is seen enthusiastically playing table tennis with his family on the coffee table, excitedly exclaiming: “Backhand, well done, good, good, good!”
Despite his young age, he displays remarkable confidence, effortlessly transitioning to a backhand stance while playing with impressive technique and intensity.
The playful match culminates in a powerful forehand smash, after which he casually walks away.
According to his profile, the toddler, nicknamed Xiaowu, hails from Sichuan province in southwestern China. Inspired by his grandmother, he began learning table tennis at just eight months old.
In other videos, Xiaowu is seen engaging in rigorous training sessions. Due to his small stature, he even has to stand on a small table to reach the professional table tennis table.
Netizens are overwhelmingly impressed by his natural talent, praising him as a future table tennis superstar, with many referring to him as the “future Fan Zhendong”.
His extraordinary skills have captured the imagination of many on mainland social media.
“Foreigners have a stereotype that all Chinese people are born knowing how to play ping pong, and it turns out this stereotype might be true!” one commenter quipped.
“Oh my god, I’m just an average table tennis fan, and I’m not as good as this three-year-old. His forehand and backhand switches are so smooth. That last smash was lightning-fast. This kid definitely has Olympic champion potential,” another praised him.
A third user remarked: “Backhand dominant, but his forehand attack is strong too - total Fan Zhendong vibes!”
Fan, who clinched two gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics in both individual and team events, has also seen his popularity soar thanks to his charming and approachable personality.
On October 11, during a tennis exhibition match in Shanghai, Fan made his tennis debut alongside Chinese professional player Zhang Zhizhen. The duo faced tennis legend Roger Federer and Hong Kong singer Eason Chan.
Despite having only a few hours of tennis training, Fan impressed the audience by using his table tennis serve technique to hit an ace against Federer, leaving fans astonished. - South China Morning Post
