“I got taken down”: no feat for Félix Lebrun against China's Fan Zhendong in the semi-final at the Paris 2024 Olympics

Félix Lebrun s'incline en demi-finale contre Fan Zhendong ce vendredi 2 août. EPA – ANNA SZILAGYI

The Montpellier Félix Lebrun, despite his valor, did not succeed in bringing down the Chinese Fan Zhendong in the semi-final of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, this Friday August 2.

The walk was gigantic. Félix Lebrun sometimes showed that he had the weapons to cross it, this Friday, August 2. But Fan Zhendong was too strong. The 27-year-old Chinese, world number 4 and Olympic champion in Tokyo, put up a wall in front of the Montpellier, leaving him with no possible escape.

À demain pour la demi-finale 💙🤍❤️

Rendez-vous à 11 h 00 pour ce match face à Fan Zendhong 🇨🇳

VAMOS ! 🔥

📸 ITTF#TeamLebrun #TeamFrance #Olympics #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/peZ5QtCSDA

— Félix Lebrun (@felixlebrun34) August 1, 2024

Bronze objective on August 4

The 17-year-old from the Nîmes-Montpellier Alliance lost 4 sets to 0 (11-8, 11-6, 11-7, 11-5). "He had an incredible match. I got taken down but it's no big deal, he said, on the spot, on France Télévisions.

But the hope of a medal did not disappear. Despite the setback, "Féfé" will aim for the bronze medal this Sunday, August 4 at 1:30 p.m., during the small final. Enough to reward an exceptional journey for the French ping phenomenon.