A night in Paris shows how far US table tennis has come – and how far it has to go

PARIS — Between the third and fourth games of the match, a chant resonated through a packed convention hall at the South Paris Arena complex.

Lil-y … clap, clap, clap.

Lil-y … clap, clap, clap.

“It was amazing,” said California’s Lily Zhang.

Yes, table tennis fans – in Europe – were chanting for an American. Not only that, but Zhang also wasn’t the only American who’d play an Olympic round of 16 singles match Wednesday night. A couple hours later, Kanak Jha would become the first U.S. men’s singles player to compete this deep in an Olympic tournament.

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In that sense, it was the type of evening and electric atmosphere that U.S. Table Tennis has been waiting years to enjoy. It showcased how far the sport has quietly progressed in a country where many have played the game of ping pong in a basement or spare room, yet seemingly no one plays table tennis as a world-class sport that requires training, timing, endurance, focus, lighting reflexes and so much mental toughness.

In another way, though, this night at the Paris Games showed how far the sport still has to go in the U.S.

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After a spirited run in Paris, Zhang was swept in four games by Shin Yu-bin of South Korea, the tournament’s No. 4 seed. Zhang, the No. 19 seed, lost her first seven points and each of the first three games. She had a shot in the fourth but couldn’t convert on two game points and ended up losing the match 11-2, 11-8, 11-4, 15-13.

“Definitely pretty disappointed and heartbroken with the result,” Zhang said, “but I think I really gave it my absolute everything. I fought until the very end.”

Jha didn’t fare much better. Overmatched against the men’s No. 2 overall seed, Fan Zhendong of China, Jha exited 11-4, 11-7, 12-10, 11-7 to end the evening.

“It is very impressive to have two players from the U.S. in the round of 16,” Jha said. “Lily is a more seasoned veteran. I think it's a great result for here, but also, I'm too surprised. ... For myself, I take a lot of confidence in this.”

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The run for Jha, 24, was all the more impressive given that he was recently sidelined for 16 months while on a strange suspension.

A drug-tester reportedly couldn’t reach him for mandatory testing because he didn’t include the “+1” in his U.S. phone number on a form, according to Sports Illustrated.

“I am happy how I played,” said Jha, meaning the tournament overall. “I beat some very strong opponents here. I showed, once again, I can challenge almost any opponent in the world at this point being from the USA.”

Zhang, 28, is a professional in her fourth Olympics. She has hinted at the possibility of retirement soon, though she also said after Wednesday night’s match that she’d “never say never” with the 2028 Games being in Los Angeles.

Whether this was it for Zhang or not, she’s already made an impact as perhaps the most accomplished and influential U.S. table tennis player of the Olympic era (dating to 1988). That goes back to when she was 16, making her Olympic debut in London and being featured in the documentary “Top Spin.”

“I've done a lot that I've wanted to do in my career,” she said. “It's been a really fulfilling experience. … Since I first started playing, I've seen the sport grow so much. Now we have a home league even. We've got more professional players. Even though they are small steps, I think it's really necessary and really cool to see.”

That pro league – Major League Table Tennis – launched last year. There are more clubs and players. And as Zhang mentioned, the next Olympics is at home.

Asked what it would take for the U.S. to take more steps and be able to seriously challenge the Asian powers that have long dominated the sport’s elite, Zhang said, “If I had the answers, I would tell you.”

“Overall, it just needs more exposure, more media, more funding, more eyes on us,” Zhang said.

“It would take a long way,” Jah said. “The U.S. is growing. ... We have potential, but we still need time. We need the sport to be bigger in the U.S. The problem is it's not very mainstream. It's not very well known. We need more support. I think it is possible, but it will take some steps.”

Reach Gentry Estes at gestes@gannett.com and on social media @Gentry_Estes.

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