By Krystal Hu
, Paris – Spectators are wearing jerseys covered in French flags and belting out the French national anthem, but they are not cheering for the national football team at the Stade de France. Instead, they’re roaring on two brothers in the Paris Olympics’ table tennis competition.
Felix and Alexis Lebrun, 17 and 20, with similar looks but very different playing styles, have drawn in French fans, channeling their pride in a less popular event in the country.
The South Paris Arena 4 has been full when the Lebrun brothers play. Among the spectators on Wednesday was football great and 1998 World Cup winner Zinedine Zidane, who showed up to cheer the pair on.
Many French fans say that it’s the first time for them to watch table tennis live and that they got into it because of the Lebruns. It was a mixed day for the fans, though, as the brothers’ journeys diverged at the round of 16.
Felix fought off a perseverant Dimitrij Ovtcharov after a seven-game match, but Alexis went down against higher-ranked Brazilian Hugo Calderano. He was emotional and tried to hold back the tears as the crowd chanted his name after he was beaten 4-1.
“Playing in front of a crowd like that was amazing. I really enjoyed it. But it’s also why I’m very sad, because I was hoping to continue, and it’s painful to lose in front of so many people,” said Alexis Lebrun.
To fans, it was still a great experience. Mathis Sarazin, 14, a student in Paris, had his father take him and his younger brother to the Lebruns’ matches on Wednesday. A football lover, he has never touched a table tennis paddle but said he was captivated by the speed in matches.
“I didn’t follow table tennis before. Then I discovered the brothers on the news,” Sarazin said. “They’re my age, so I feel I can relate to them.”
While Alexis Lebrun’s Paris singles campaign may have ended he will continue to fight for a medal for the French in the team event, and he said he felt proud to raise awareness of the sport alongside his brother.
“I love table tennis, so I’m very happy more and more people are discovering this sport. I think we’re making quite a good promotion for it, so I’m very proud to be part of that,” he said.
(Reporting by Krystal in Paris; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
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