Does a romantic declaration on social media spell the end for Chinese table tennis sensation Zhang Jike’s career?

Chinese social media buzzed on Thursday after the joint announcement of the country’s latest high-profile romance when table tennis superstar Zhang Jike and movie star Jing Tian announced they were in a relationship on Weibo with a well-timed reveal.

However, focus immediately shifted to three-time Olympic gold medallist Zhang’s sporting future, with some suggesting it could spell the end of his incredible ping pong career.

The duo finally put an end to months of speculation when they posted the announcement in a simultaneous Weibo postings which read: “K (heart-shaped emoji) T” – “K” standing for Ke, an abbreviation of Zhang’s given name. The announcement was published alongside a photo of the pair strolling hand-in-hand along a beach.

Zhang, 30, has missed a number of events in recent months through persistent injuries since his most recent high-profile triumph – a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

His run of injuries coupled with the state’s general disapproval of its players becoming engaged in high-profile romances have led to rumours that Zhang’s career could be over.

He stated in August 2016 that he intended to play on until the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. But it seems Cupid may have altered his plans.