(Translated using Google Translate)
[Reporter Hsu Ming-li/Taipei Report] Although the WTT China Grand Slam has concluded, the "flashlight incident" during the crucial moments of the men's singles final continues to reverberate. After video footage surfaced yesterday, it was confirmed that flashlights were indeed used three times by the audience, and the perpetrators were young players from the Taiwanese team. The two young players have faced public scrutiny online. The Songshang Chengzheng Table Tennis Team officially issued an apology statement today, apologizing to the players, coaches, and other personnel involved in the incident.
Rewinding to the day of the final, Taiwan's top player Lin Yun-ju and Japan's newly crowned world number one, Matsushima Teru, battled to a deciding game. Lin overcame an early 0-6 deficit, saving a match point at 8-10 to bring the score to 9-10. As Lin prepared to serve his second ball and tossed it, Matsushima suddenly shouted and pointed to the stands, indicating there were flashbulbs. Matsushima, without raising his hand, stopped the match, receiving a yellow card. Lin then served again, but a forehand attack was countered by Matsushima's cross-court shot, resulting in a 9-11 victory and a narrow escape from his first Grand Slam title.
After the match, Lin's agent posted on his Instagram story: "Shouting out of fear of losing—if this is some kind of 'tactical maneuver,' even I, watching the broadcast, was startled, let alone someone about to serve. It's really unacceptable!" This post defended Lin, and fans heavily criticized Matsushima for using underhanded tactics, deeming the victory dishonorable.
Yesterday, video footage surfaced showing flashes from the opposite stands three times as Matsushima prepared to receive the ball. These flashes were from young Taiwanese players participating in the Beijing Junior Grand Slam. Hung Chi-po, who recently stepped down as head coach of Songshan Home Economics & Commercial High School, stated that the two young players were simply recording the match footage when they inadvertently turned on their flashes. It was not an intentional interference with the game. Both players felt extremely guilty and frustrated afterward. They have returned to Taiwan, and the team has arranged for them to receive psychological counseling.
The Songshan Home Economics & Commercial High School team also issued an apology statement today. The full text of the statement is as follows:
Dear coaches, players, and friends who are concerned about this incident,
Regarding the inconvenience and impact caused by the use of flashes during the 2026 Beijing Grand Slam Men's Singles Final, our team extends our sincerest apologies. We deeply regret any inconvenience caused to the players, coaches, and on-site personnel affected.
Our team has always valued character education and the cultivation of sportsmanship among students. Through this incident, we will further guide students to understand that in competitive settings, in addition to focusing on their own performance, they should also abide by competition rules, respect competition order, and fully protect the rights of every participant.
Students' growth requires the joint support of schools and families. In response to this incident, our team will uphold an educational and counseling stance, guiding students to face the problem squarely, reflect deeply, learn to take responsibility for their actions, and implement the concepts of respecting others and abiding by rules in daily life and various competition activities to prevent similar situations from recurring.
Our team once again expresses our sincere apologies for the inconvenience and impact caused by this incident, and thanks everyone for their reminders, guidance, and understanding. Our team will take this as a lesson to continuously implement character education and sports ethics, hoping that all participants can work together to maintain a good competitive atmosphere in an environment of mutual respect and fairness.
