China's table tennis women's legend, Ms. Deng Yaping, revealed that she received "death threats" when she was defeated by a Japanese player.

Recently, when Ms. Deng was interviewed by Chinese media Kankan News, in connection with China's defeat to Japan in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games table tennis men's team event, which resulted in a silver medal, she recalled her own defeat to Japan's Chire Koyama in the women's singles final at the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games.

According to Ms. Deng, at that time, someone sent her shoelaces. She said this was meant as a threat, and Ms. Deng said, "What are you doing, losing even to a Japanese person? Hang yourself (that's what it meant)," and "I couldn't make any excuses. Because I lost."

Also, when asked, "Did you cry at that time?", she laughed and said, "Of course I did." She added, "I was truly frustrated. As an athlete, there's no way I'd want to lose. It's not that I didn't try, or didn't fight to the very end. But even when I made an effort, I was criticized and told various things by others, and even told 'Don't live'."

Ms. Deng stated, "If I wasn't technically as good as my opponent, I should just go back and practice. But you shouldn't insult or attack like this." When the interviewer asked, "How long did such extreme behavior (by some fans) continue?", Ms. Deng replied, "For many years."

Chinese netizens commented, "Competitive sports require ability," "Online lynching and (legitimate) criticism should be distinguished," "It is only by knowing shame that one can be inspired. When you win, you receive bouquets and applause, so when you lose, naturally, you must also accept ridicule and abuse. Fans should not be blamed," "The problem is not winning or losing, but strange player selection," and "In the past, when we lost a match, we would reflect and self-criticize within the team. In the national team, if you relaxed even a little, you would immediately be sent back to the provincial team and even lose the right to participate in competitions. It's different from now, where players are given many chances but don't cherish them or reflect."