Table tennis: Félix Lebrun falls with arms in hand against the legend Ma Long, in the round of 16 of the World Cup

Il ne manquait pas grand-chose à Félix pour renverser Ma Long. Midi Libre – DORIAN CAYUELA

Opposed to Ma Long, double reigning Olympic champion, in the round of 16 of the World Cup, Montpellier's Félix Lebrun ended up losing 4-2, after showing fierce resistance.

For his first World Cup, Félix Lebrun fell in the round of 16. It must be said that the draw was not necessarily favorable to the French prodigy, since he inherited Ma Long, 4th in the world, double reigning Olympic champion and considered by many as the "GOAT& quot; (greatest in history) of ping-pong.

Also read:Table tennis: Félix Lebrun wins his second and final group match without trembling

Beaten three times in their three previous clashes, Félix, at the age of 17, will still have to wait to win against the very experienced Chinese (35 years old).

Félix Lebrun makes Ma Long tremble

The first two sets were played to nothing, Ma Long bringing his experience to the finish each time (11-7 and 11-8). The Montpellier player took the lead at the end of the third round (8-11) but Ma Long put in a decisive effort, at home, in the Galaxy Arena in Macau (11-8). Without complexes, the youngest of the Lebrun brothers returned to the game, to shake his opponent, winner of the 2012 and 2015 editions (8-11).

🆚 Ma Long 🐉🇨🇳

2️⃣ – 4️⃣

📺 RMC Sport (Twitch/Youtube)#ITTFWorlds2024 #TeamLebrun pic.twitter.com/69wRwWk18e

— Félix Lebrun (@felixlebrun34) April 18, 2024

Pushed to his limits, Ma Long ended up, with a final push, getting the better of Félix Lebrun (11-8).

𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐞 𝐝𝐮 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞 🏆

Félix Lebrun 2️⃣-4️⃣ Ma Long

Bagarreur, accrocheur, Félix aura tout donné ce matin. Ca n'a malheureusement pas suffi face au meilleur joueur de tous les temps.

📸 Rémy Gros#TeamFrance 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/ns2Y4e9llW

— Fédération Française de Tennis de Table (@ffttofficiel) April 18, 2024

Less than 100 days before the Olympic Games, the Montpellier prodigy measures the path and the progress to be made to beat the best, to win a medal this summer in Paris.