BEIJING (SCMP): A top table tennis player in China who was accused of losing an international match in Singapore because he attended a Taylor Swift concert has defended himself by saying he is just an ordinary young man with hobbies.

Fan Zhendong, 27, a former world No 1 ping pong champion, was defeated by his teammate Lin Shidong, 18, at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Grand Smash in Singapore at the beginning of March.