A fitting farewell

At the press conference following his gold medal victory, Ma confirmed that Paris will be his final Olympics, though he has not yet decided whether he will retire.

"This gold medal is a perfect way to conclude my Olympic career, but you might still see me on the international stage in the future," he said. "I am extremely proud, fortunate, and honored."

Reflecting on his journey since the Tokyo Olympics, Ma admitted he never expected to compete on the Paris stage. "Over these three years, I've experienced significant growth both mentally and technically. The journey has been vastly different, but I'm delighted to have had the chance to participate in the Olympics once more."

He also offered sincere best wishes to his younger teammates, with whom he won gold in Paris. He expressed hope that Fan will represent China at the Los Angeles Olympics in four years.

Regarding Wang, who won the mixed doubles, but was eliminated in singles, Ma noted, "joy is only part of the story. There's still an opportunity to achieve a super 'Grand Slam'. No one has yet won titles in team, doubles, and mixed doubles events, and you're still young."

Ma hopes to inspire more young people to embrace table tennis, much like German paddler Timo Boll has, but as for a future in coaching, he remains undecided.

During the Olympics men's team competition, Ma, seated beside coach Wang Hao, frequently offered strategic advice to his teammates during timeouts. After a match against the Indian team, an opposing player even mistakenly assumed Ma was the coach and attempted to shake his hand. Perhaps subconsciously, Ma already carries the aura of one.

"Table tennis has been a part of my life for over 30 years, and I have a profound emotional connection to it," Ma said. "The sport has introduced me to the world, earned me respect and honor, and provided countless unforgettable moments. That's why I can't help but love it."

Ma's farewell to the table tennis stage began to take shape with the onset of the Paris Olympic cycle.

After securing the men's team gold at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year, he remarked: "I had hoped to return for the next Asian Games, but this should be my last. Winning the championship is a perfect conclusion."

In February, Ma and his teammates triumphed at the ITTF World Team Championships in Busan, South Korea. Following their victory, he acknowledged that it was his ninth and final World Team Championships in a similar manner.

"This has been a memorable journey," he stated. "I'm grateful for the trust within the team and among my teammates. Ending my final World Championships match with a victory is a perfect ending."

Paris may not be Ma's final act in the sport he loves, but is a fitting and flawless end to his remarkable Olympic playing career.

liyingxue@chinadaily.com.cn