Costly win: Table Tennis Star stripped of winner's prize money for exuberant celebration

Winning a tournament can bring eternal joy and a big fat pay cheque but not knowing how to celebrate after the win might prove to be costly. This is what Chinese Table Tennis star Zhang Jike learned after his overenthusiastic victory celebrations at a tournament in Germany. Zhang Jike was stripped of US$45,000 in prize money for damaging advertising hoardings after defeating compatriot Ma Long in the final of Liebherr Men’s World Cup in Dusseldorf, according to South China Morning Post. [caption id=“attachment_1776791” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Zhang celebrated by fly-kicking the advertising hoardings. Youtube grab[/caption] The reigning world and Olympic champion fought back from three games down to win the seven-game match. He then let his emotions out by fly-kicking an advertising hoarding and then ran to the opposite side to shatter another one with a powerful kick. He then took his shirt off and threw it into the crowd. The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) subsequently decided not to award the prize money to the Chinese star, reported The Guardian. Later, Zang apologized for his over-the-top celebrations. Below is the video of Zhang’s celebration.