The Captain has left the building! Explore why table tennis legends Fan Zhendong, Chen Meng, and Ma Long have stepped back from competition. Discover the intense training regimens, physical toll, and mental pressures that come with being at the top, and what their withdrawals reveal about the sport's grueling demands. A must-read for fans of the game and anyone curious about the price of greatness.

In a bombshell announcement that has sent shockwaves through the table tennis world, Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng, two of the sport’s brightest stars, have officially retired from the World Table Tennis (WTT) circuit. Fans are left reeling, social media is ablaze, and questions abound: why would two champions in their prime step away from the game?