Chinese internet users were outraged after witnessing national table tennis Olympic champion Wang Chuqin being sidelined during a recent event sponsored by American beverage giant Coca-Cola.
The incident occurred at a Beijing marketing event on December 17, where a senior executive was observed moving Wang from a central stage position to the side, as reported by news portal Sohu.
Initially, Wang, dressed in Team China’s red uniform, along with actor Yang Yang and singer Wang Sulong, were on stage awaiting Coca-Cola executives to join them for a fireworks-lighting ceremony displayed on a large screen.
Yang is the company’s global brand spokesperson, while Wang Chuqin and Wang Sulong represent the brand in China.
When Jennifer Antczak, whose Chinese name is Shang Dexin, the chief marketing officer for the company’s Greater China and Mongolia region, approached the stage, she directed Wang Chuqin to switch positions with Yang, placing him slightly further from the centre of the stage.
This action sparked anger among many in China, who viewed the central position as a significant symbol for their idol.
