Basic Information

• Name: Zhao Zihao
• Date of Birth: January 1997
• Birthplace: Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
• Nationality: Chinese
• Sports Rank: International Master of Sports
• Playing Style: Right-handed penhold grip, two-sided inverted rubber loop combined with fast attack style
• Current Team: Shanghai Real Estate Group (continues to represent the local team after leaving the national team)

Career Journey

Early Years (2004-2013)

• 2004 (Age 7): Accompanied his father’s friend’s child to Shanghai and entered the Cao Yanhua Table Tennis School. Coach Cao Yanhua immediately recognized his exceptional talent and provided strong support
• 2011 (Age 14): Won the men’s challenge group championship at the “Rongsheng Heavy Industry Cup” Second Shanghai Table Tennis Grand Prix & World Champion Challenge. In a match against German star Timo Boll, he won one set 11-9. After the match, Boll praised: “His ball sense is very good, and his shot selection is excellent. He’s only 14? Great potential!”
• 2012: Selected for the Shanghai training team
• 2013: At age 16, Zhao Zihao was first selected for the National Team’s second squad; competed in the National Games with the Shanghai men’s table tennis team that same year; won both team and singles championships at the Asian University Table Tennis Championships

National Team Period (2013-2026)

Key Breakthroughs and Honors

• 2014: In the men’s team semifinal of the National Table Tennis Championships, he surprisingly defeated “Grand Slam” winner Zhang Jike, helping Shanghai advance to the final
• 2016: On September 23, in the National Table Tennis Championships men’s team final, Shang Kun, Xu Xin, and Zhao Zihao each secured a victory. Shanghai narrowly defeated Shandong 3-2 to win the men’s team championship, achieving a three-peat in the national championships
• 2017: On September 1, in the Tianjin National Games table tennis men’s team final, Shanghai defeated Sichuan 3-0, winning the gold medal for the first time in 52 years. This was a major turning point in Zhao’s career. As the team’s third singles player, he secured a crucial point for Shanghai in a key match
• 2018:
  • November 18: Won both the U21 men’s singles and men’s singles titles at the ITTF Challenge Series Belarus Minsk Station
  • Officially promoted to the Chinese Men’s National Table Tennis Team First Squad
• 2019:
  • July 10: Won the men’s doubles championship at the 30th Summer Universiade, partnering with Yu Ziyang to defeat Kong Lingxuan/Zhu Linfeng 4-1
  • July 11: Finished as runner-up in the men’s singles final at the Universiade, losing 0-4 to Yu Ziyang
  • August 19: Finished as runner-up in the men’s singles at the ITTF Pro Tour Bulgaria Open
  • November 17: Finished as runner-up in the men’s singles final at the 2019 ITTF Austrian Open, losing 0-4 to Fan Zhendong
  • November 19: Selected for the ITTF World Tour Grand Finals
• 2022:
  • January 14: Named in the WTT Macau Champions tournament roster
  • March: Defeated Yuan Licen 4-0 to win the WTT Feeder Doha men’s singles championship
  • August 6: Partnered with Xue Fei to finish as runners-up in the WTT Contender Tunis men’s doubles final, losing 2-3 to Japanese pair Tomokazu Harimoto/Yuto Kizukuri
• 2023:
  • February 19: Lost 2-3 to Liang Jingkun in the second round of the first stage of the World Table Tennis Championships selection tournament
  • September 4: Partnered with Cao Wei to finish as runners-up in the WTT Feeder Panagyurishte men’s doubles
  • December 23: Lost 1-3 to Ma Long in the Chinese Super League Finals men’s singles match
• 2025:
  • July 25: In the second phase of the Chinese Super League regular season, Zhao Zihao/Cao Kai representing Shanghai Real Estate Group defeated Huangshi Huaxin’s Xue Fei/Xiang Peng 3-2
  • November 8: Lost 0-3 to Xu Haidong/Chen Xingtong in the mixed doubles round of 16 at the 15th National Games
  • November 13: Lost 1-4 to Lin Shidong in the men’s singles quarterfinals at the 15th National Games
  • November 20: Finished as runners-up in the men’s team event at the 15th National Games with Shanghai, losing 1-3 to Beijing
  • December 27: Awarded Master of Sports title by the Chinese Table Tennis Association

Role Transition in the National Team

From the Tokyo Olympic cycle to the Paris Olympic cycle, Zhao Zihao consistently appeared on the selection lists for the World Cup and World Table Tennis Championships. During his time with the national team, he not only competed as a player but also served as a primary sparring partner for core team members, becoming an important part of the Chinese men’s team’s “mobile tactical library.” He once stated: “In the national team, no one is required to assist anyone else. We all contribute our individual strength for the collective honor of the country.”

Leaving the National Team (2026)

• January 23, 2026: Zhao Zihao officially announced the end of his 12-year national team career through a long post on social media. He wrote: “I came infinitely close to my dream, only to miss it. I was trapped in the shackles of self-proof, but through repeated setbacks, I learned to reconcile with myself. Who says only those standing in the spotlight are heroes? Becoming a trusted piece of the collective puzzle is another form of self-realization.”

This farewell letter attracted widespread attention, with related topics trending at number one on social media. Zhao clarified that leaving was not the end, but the beginning of a new life chapter. He stated: “I’m only leaving the national team; I haven’t retired.”

Post-National Team Career

After leaving the national team, Zhao Zihao continues to represent Shanghai Real Estate Group in the Chinese Super League and National Championships. Meanwhile, he has begun exploring diverse paths:

• Visiting elementary schools to promote table tennis and pass on the spirit of China’s national sport
• Participating in table tennis commentary, providing unique perspectives for fans
• Creating lifestyle vlogs to share his post-retirement daily life
• Attending young backbone coach training programs, planning to transition into coaching

Technical Characteristics and Evaluation

Zhao Zihao employs a unique penhold grip with two-sided inverted rubber loop combined with fast attack style—a traditional penhold approach that is relatively rare in today’s table tennis landscape. His ball sense is outstanding, with refined shot selection, demonstrating technical maturity beyond his age even as a youngster. German star Timo Boll praised his potential after their encounter.

Although he did not reach the highest podium at the Olympics or World Championships like some teammates, Zhao remained steadfast during his 12 years with the national team, becoming an indispensable member. His teammates believe that the 2017 National Games was his major turning point—the “explosion point” that elevated him to a higher level. From then on, he developed what is known as a “winner’s mindset”—a stronger desire to win and the drive to keep winning after achieving victory.

Major Honors

Individual Honors

• 2022 WTT Feeder Doha Men’s Singles Champion
• 2019 ITTF Austrian Open Men’s Singles Runner-up
• 2019 ITTF Bulgaria Open Men’s Singles Runner-up
• 2019 30th Summer Universiade Men’s Singles Runner-up
• 2018 ITTF Challenge Series Belarus Minsk Station Men’s Singles Champion & U21 Men’s Singles Champion
• 2013 Asian University Table Tennis Championships Singles Champion

Team Honors

• 2025 15th National Games Men’s Team Runner-up (Shanghai Team)
• 2019 30th Summer Universiade Men’s Team Champion
• 2019 30th Summer Universiade Men’s Doubles Champion (with Yu Ziyang)
• 2017 13th National Games Men’s Team Champion (Shanghai Team)
• 2016 National Table Tennis Championships Men’s Team Champion (Shanghai Team)
• Multiple Chinese Super League team championships and runner-ups

Personal Traits

Zhao Zihao has left an impression of being “cheerfully optimistic” among fans, with an upbeat and humorous personality, often displaying his signature smile. However, when discussing the national team and collective honor, his eyes and tone always carry determination.

In his farewell letter, he wrote: “Not everyone in competitive sports can become a champion, but everyone can realize their self-worth in their own role.” This statement encapsulates his emotional journey over 12 years with the national team—from aspiring to stand on the highest stage, to learning to reconcile with himself, and finally recognizing that becoming a trusted piece of the collective puzzle is equally a form of self-realization.

Zhao himself didn’t anticipate his emotional fluctuations at the time. After defeating Xu Yingbin at the 2025 National Games, when reporters handed him the microphone, this ever-smiling “comedian” suddenly had tears in his eyes, his voice choking several times as he said with emotion: “Table tennis… is still quite enjoyable, isn’t it?”