TAOYUAN (TVBS News) — A large crowd gathered at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (桃園機場) on Friday (Aug. 9) at around 7:10 a.m. to welcome back table tennis stars Chuang Chih-yuan (莊智淵) and Kao Cheng-jui (高承睿).
The 43-year-old "Table Tennis Godfather" Chuang returned with his students Lin Yun-ju (林昀儒) and Kao Cheng-jui (高承睿) from the Olympics in Paris, where they fought hard in the men's team event but unfortunately lost to Japan in the quarterfinals.
Chuang's performance in his final Olympic Games drew significant attention and discussion.
At the airport, Chuang signed autographs and took photos with fans, expressing gratitude for their warm reception. When asked by the media if he could stand nearer to Chuang to get in a photo, Kao humorously replied, "The adults are talking."
Reflecting on his final Olympic performance, Chuang said, "Of course, there are some regrets, but I feel I can grow from these regrets. If I get the chance, I will always say yes, so there will never be an 'I don't want to compete in the Olympics' sentiment."
He hinted at participating in future Olympics in a different capacity, continuing to mentor younger players and contribute to Taiwan's table tennis scene.
Fans and supporters eagerly await Chuang's next steps as he transitions from player to mentor, ensuring his legacy endures through the next generation of Taiwanese table tennis talent.