As newly-crowned world table tennis champion Wang Liqin was talking to media in a noisy press conference room filled with reporters, Ma Lin looked listless, staring aimlessly.
He didn't catch the first question addressed to him. When he started to answer, he choked.
"I just picked a phone call from my parents and they asked me when I will be home," said Ma, who half an hour ago wasted a 3-1 lead of sets to lose the championship final to Wang Liqin.
Ma continued: "My grandfather jumped from a high building and committed suicide a week ago. I didn't know until now."
The toughest fighter in the table tennis world buried his head in the towel and could barely speak any more.
It reminded of Ma Lin's former partner Zhang Yingying, who was told after winning the mixed doubles gold in the 1999 world championships, that her father had died.
Ma Lin, world runner-up to Liu Guoliang in 1999 and again to Wang Liqin in 2005, had been cruising to his first world singles title before Wang Liqin woke up from 1-7 down, not only to snatch the fifth set but also the next two.
The 4-11, 8-11, 11-5, 4-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-6 victory earned Wang his third and second straight singles crown. For Ma, it was the third time unlucky.
In the awarding ceremony, International Table Tennis Federation(ITTF) president Adham Sharara whispered into Ma's ear: "I think you are as good as the champion."
Ma had beaten Belarussian star Vladimir Samsonov and China's Olympic silver medalist Wang Hao before taking on Wang Liqin.
Pairing up with Chen Qi, Ma on Saturday won the men's doubles final over Wang Liqin and Wang Hao.
"Ma Lin is the best performing player in the Chinese team," said the Chinese men's team head coach Liu Guoliang. "He will still have a chance in the Beijing Olympics."
In a media voting announced by the ITTF on Sunday, Ma was picked as the most impressive player in the Zagreb championships.
(Xinhua News Agency May 29, 2007)