At the London World Table Tennis Championships men’s team final, China swept Japan 3-0 to secure a 12th consecutive title. After the victory, 21-year-old Lin Shidong jumped onto the table and pointed to the Chinese flag on his chest in celebration, sparking complaints from Japanese media and netizens.
Lin Shidong defeated Tomokazu Harimoto in the third match 3-1, securing the championship for China. Overwhelmed with emotion, he hugged coach Wang Hao and teammates before leaping onto the table and proudly gesturing to the national emblem. This scene angered some in Japan, who accused him of deliberate provocation and poor sportsmanship, calling for sanctions from the International Table Tennis Federation. However, the ITTF praised the celebration and dismissed any penalty.
Even a Japanese politician joined the fray. Former Tokyo Adachi Ward council member Makoto Matsumaru posted: “In the men’s team final, after beating Japan, Chinese player Lin Shidong jumped onto the table in an outrageous display of disrespect, flaunting his national flag. Back home, he is hailed as a hero. Yet, China harshly criticizes similar acts from others while excusing its own under the banner of victory. This double standard exposes a lack of grace and class in Chinese sports.”
This politician’s true colors are clear—he is not against the celebration itself but is driven by an anti-China agenda, elevating a simple sporting moment to a matter of national dignity. Such baseless criticism only makes him a clown unworthy of attention.
