Xu Xin Heads Home! Masked and Capped at the Airport, Waves Goodbye as He Withdraws from Final Two Matches

On the afternoon of August 31, table tennis star Xu Xin was spotted at the airport, heading home ahead of schedule and bringing his campaign in the third stage of the Chinese Table Tennis Super League to an unexpected close. His early departure comes amid widespread speculation that it may be linked to a controversial umpiring decision earlier that morning.

The third stage of the league is currently being held in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, where Xu Xin has been representing the Shanghai Real Estate Group team. That morning, Shanghai faced off against the Pioneer Ping Pong & Badminton Chen Jing Club in a tense showdown.

During the fourth match, Xu Xin went head-to-head in singles against rising 18-year-old talent Fei Junhang. From the outset, Xu Xin repeatedly complained to the umpire about his opponent’s allegedly illegal serves. However, no warnings or point deductions were issued against Fei. In a dramatic moment late in the second game, Xu Xin mimicked Fei’s serve — only for the umpire to immediately signal a violation and issue a warning to Xu Xin himself.

Clearly dissatisfied, Xu Xin protested on the spot, but the umpire motioned for him to continue playing. Ultimately, Xu Xin narrowly lost the match 2–3, though Shanghai went on to claim overall victory with a 3–2 win after five matches.

Shortly after the match, Xu Xin posted a brief two-character message on social media: “Going home.” The cryptic post fueled speculation about his withdrawal. Hours later, reporters confirmed his early departure when they spotted him at the airport. Despite wearing a mask and cap, fans quickly recognized him.

Travelers nearby called out words of encouragement — “Xu Xin, jiayou!” — to which he responded with polite nods. Just before heading into the security checkpoint, a female fan shouted, “Goodbye, Xin-ge!” Xu Xin turned, waved warmly, and disappeared into the terminal.

According to the schedule, Shanghai still has two matches remaining in the stage. However, with the team already securing its place in the next round, Xu Xin will sit them out. The remaining games will instead feature younger players stepping up to take his place.