11–1! Chen Meng Returns with Back-to-Back Wins, Dominates Training Partner Wang Manyu — You’d Never Guess She’s Been Away for Nine Months

Recently, Chen Meng’s name appeared under actor Huang Xiaoming’s artist roster — and with her stepping into livestreaming and product endorsements, many believed her official retirement was just around the corner. Yet just when everyone thought her competitive chapter had closed, the Olympic champion surprised the world once again.

On October 24, Chen Meng made her long-awaited comeback at the China–Thailand Friendship Tournament held at Shandong University, sweeping Thai player Phakranan 3-0 (11-6, 11-4, 11-6). Facing an international opponent in her first match back, she didn’t drop a single game. Her rhythm and precision were as sharp as ever — proof that her extra training sessions during recovery were anything but relaxed.

Later that afternoon, she took on Xu Yi in an internal team match and won 3-1 after dropping the opening game (10-12, 11-7, 11-4, 11-1). Xu Yi is known as Wang Manyu’s sparring partner within the national team, yet Chen Meng closed out the final game 11-1, showing the same dominance and control as before her nine-month break.

Following the Paris Olympics last year, Chen Meng distanced herself from the national team and, together with Fan Zhendong, withdrew from the world rankings. The move — a quiet protest against what many called the WTT’s “monopoly rules” — earned wide respect from international associations. But considering the Chinese team’s usual discipline, such a move suggested a deeper conflict. During her year away, Chen Meng also opened up about the emotional toll of cyberbullying from extreme fans. Despite the intense pressure, her gold-medal victory over Sun Yingsha in Paris was her ultimate response — proving she fully deserved her Olympic singles spot.

In the women’s team, the trio of Chen Meng, Sun Yingsha, and Wang Manyu mirrors the legendary “Two Wangs and One Ma” era of the men’s team — a golden generation where all three shone brightly. Yet none of them has completed a Grand Slam. Sun and Wang, both younger and still peaking, remain central to the national team and stand a strong chance to achieve that milestone. Chen Meng, however, faces a different reality — her age and recurring injuries have taken their toll. Her successful Olympic title defense in Paris was already beyond expectations, and a full-scale return to the national team after the National Games seems unlikely.

For that reason, the upcoming National Games may well be her final mission. Having never won the women’s singles title at this event, Chen Meng is expected to give it everything she has, leaving no regrets behind. Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu would be wise not to underestimate her — Chen’s composure, tactical depth, and big-match experience could still tip the balance in any encounter between them.

Will Chen Meng claim her long-awaited National Games singles crown, or could she face an early upset? The answers are coming soon — and once again, the spotlight is back where it belongs: on Chen Meng, the champion who refuses to fade quietly.