At the closing ceremony of the 15th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao National Games, the “veteran” Ma Long and the host’s Asian record holder in the men’s 100 meters, Su Bingtian, took center stage, leading the performance of the National Games theme song “Momentum Like a Rainbow” alongside swimming star Pan Zhanle, synchronized swimming sisters Wang Liuyi and Wang Qianyi, and Asian Footballer of the Year Wang Shuang, marking the beginning of the closing ceremony.
Ma Long’s leadership in the performance conveys not only a melody but also a spirit of inheritance. His ability to represent as an athlete and sing alongside the accomplished Su Bingtian from Guangdong sports highlights Ma Long’s significance in Chinese sports, and serves as a tribute to his status as a “veteran” of the National Games. His legendary sports career will be a model and spiritual wealth for countless young athletes.
On November 20, the day before the closing ceremony, Ma Long scored two points, leading the Beijing team to a 3-1 victory over the Shanghai team, winning the men’s team championship at the National Games. This gold medal filled the only gap in his career honors, making him the first player in National Games history to achieve a “Grand Slam” by winning championships in men’s singles, men’s doubles, mixed doubles, and men’s team events!
After winning the men’s team championship, Ma Long shared a photo of the victory and the gold medal on his personal social media (as shown above), captioning it: “Perfect, thank you all.”
I believe this “perfect” refers not only to the “Grand Slam” at the National Games but also to a “perfect conclusion” to his career. Ma Long mentioned earlier this year that the 15th National Games should be his last.
“This is Ma Long’s last National Games…” At the press conference after the men’s team victory at the 15th National Games, when Beijing team head coach Zhang Lei said this, the reporters present were surprised, and even Ma Long himself was slightly taken aback.
At the press conference, reflecting on his 20-year career, Ma Long choked up: “Ten years ago, I never dared to imagine standing here at 37. My love for table tennis and the original intention of fighting on the court have been the driving force that supports me to this day.” At the end of the press conference, he emotionally stated: “I hope to grow well with the fans and slowly grow old together.”Ma Long officially took office as the vice president of the Chinese Table Tennis Association in April 2025, which means his focus will inevitably shift to management and nurturing new talent. As he ages, he will also continue to compete at a high level as an athlete, facing significant challenges in both energy and role.His honesty, the coach’s confirmation, the role transition… although Ma Long ultimately did not directly say the words “retirement”, all signs indicate that,this will indeed be his “final performance” on the National Games stage, it is just hard to say goodbye. Although I also hope that the Dragon Team will have a sequel.Ma Long’s “final performance” has perfectly concluded, while his “leading role” has opened a new chapter in Chinese sports.In four years, the National Games will head to Hunan!Click to follow
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