China's Wang Chuqin celebrates winning gold at the Paris Olympics. Photo: AFP
China's table tennis player Wang Chuqin was overjoyed after securing his first Olympic gold medal alongside mixed doubles teammate Sun Yingsha.
But his elation soon turned to disbelief, anger and frustration when he discovered that his paddle - crucial for his singles and team events - had been damaged by excited photographers rushing to capture the moment.
Visibly upset, Wang tried to ask for an explanation. His coach tried to hug him in an effort to console him and ask him to stay calm.
Wang soon regained his composure despite the setback.
"At that moment, I lost control of my emotions a little. I couldn't understand why the photographers would do that," Wang said, still visibly affected by the incident.
"I guess they didn't mean it. I can't do anything now that it's already happened. I believe I'll still be able to play well with my backup bat. Maybe this is fate."
Many fans expressed anger towards the photographers on China's social media Weibo.
- Reuters
