Chinese Table Tennis Star Zhang Jike Returns to Butterfly Website After Signing Contract

Chinese table tennis star Zhang Jike has made a comeback to the official website of the Butterfly company after signing a contract. The announcement comes months after Butterfly temporarily suspended the sale of products related to the athlete in April last year. The official website of the company has resumed displaying products with Zhang's signature.

On February 22, Blue Whale News reported that Zhang, as a signed player, has returned to the Butterfly Table Tennis China official website. Furthermore, the website has resumed displaying products with Zhang's signature, indicating that the sales of related products are now fully restored. In April 2023, Butterfly Table Tennis had released an announcement stating they would remove Zhang's profile as a player and stop selling products related to him.

Upon learning of Zhang's return to the website, Blue Whale News contacted the Butterfly Table Tennis China's Shanghai branch. However, the company has not released any further statements regarding this matter.

The news of Zhang's return has sparked a wave of reactions among netizens on China's social media platform Weibo. While some users criticized the decision to reinstate Zhang, others defended him, citing his previous contributions to Chinese table tennis.

One user wrote, "Internet truly has no memory. Zhang Jike managed to make a comeback after facing allegations and temporarily being dropped from the brand. This wouldn't be the first time a star athlete was able to bounce back after facing controversy. Zhang Jike achieved an astonishing Grand Slam in table tennis in just 445 days, becoming the fastest player in history to win all three major titles."

Another user expressed support for Zhang, stating, "Zhang Jike's personal issues should not overshadow his contributions to Chinese table tennis. People can choose whether to buy his products or not. There's no need for a witch hunt."

Some users criticized Butterfly Table Tennis for bringing Zhang back, with one user writing, "How can someone with such tarnished reputation return to representing the brand? It shows that Butterfly values sales over integrity. People with questionable character should not be allowed to return to the spotlight so easily."

Another user questioned the selective amnesia of Zhang's fans, stating, "Why is everyone so quick to forget Zhang Jike's past misconduct? It's as if they selectively choose to ignore certain facts."

This is not the first time a star athlete has made a comeback after facing controversy. In 2019, another table tennis player, Yang Ming, made a similar return following a suspension for misconduct.

It remains unclear what Butterfly Table Tennis' decision to reinstate Zhang Jike means for the brand's future and its commitment to integrity. However, one thing is certain: Zhang Jike's return has reignited the debate on whether athletes should be granted a second chance after facing controversy.

In conclusion, Zhang Jike's return to the Butterfly Table Tennis China's official website has sparked a mix of reactions among Chinese netizens. While some users are supportive of his comeback, others have criticized the decision to bring him back. As the debate continues, one thing remains clear: Zhang Jike's return to the spotlight highlights the complex issue of second chances for athletes who have faced controversy.

Word count: 827. All information in the article has been extracted from the provided tweets and translated into English.