Calling all sidekicks: Your time is now. For everyone faithfully executing the office of of a heroic assistant, consider the case of Shang Kun (pictured, front right). Shang paid his dues in his native China, backing up superstars like Zhang Jike and Wang Hao on the national team nearly a decade ago. Now 29, Shang has long since aged out of the unrelentingly competitive Chinese table tennis scene. Peaking at #45 in the world ranking in 2017, he has spent the last few years as a hired gun in Germany's comparably cutthroat Bundesliga. Playing for FC Saarbrücken TT, Shang was hired to support German star Patrick Franziska (pictured, front left), ranked #16 in the world. "Patrick Franziska is the backbone of our success and Shang Kun was worthy reinforcement," said coach Slobodan Grujic. For the last two seasons, the Saarbrücken team has finished in the respectable but frustrating runner-up position. Last year, it was TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen, led by world #6 Hugo Calderano of Brazil, who claimed the championship. As fate would have it, the two mighty clubs would again clash in this year's final. While there were questions about the viability of proceeding with the league in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, a modified tournament format with strict social distancing and hygienic protocols has thus far proven successful. "We adjusted to new conditions: health measures and absence of spectators," said Grujic. While the playing environment may have been sterilized, the atmosphere was full of life. The final started out as dramatically as possible, with respective team captains Franziska and Calderano going the full distance. Franziska put Saarbrücken on the board first with two clutch points at deuce in the deciding fifth game: first a forehand loop-kill of Calderano's serve, then a crushing backhand third-ball winner. Next, it was Shang Kun's turn to back up the boss. Facing France's world #19 Simon Gauzy, the inventive and sporadically brilliant player who beat Xu Xin in last year's World Championships, Shang had a tough row to hoe. Luckily for Saarbrücken, Shang had more than adequate skill and nerve in reserve, notching an efficient 3-1 win. With Saarbrücken now up 2-0, Slovenia's Darko Jorgic had a chance to bring the title home with a win over Jakub Dyjas of Poland. The world #64 Dyjas, however, kept the reigning champions' hopes alive with a 3-1 win over the world #34 Jorgic. Consequently, it would then be Shang Kun's chance to play the hero against none other than the redoubtable Calderano. Shang, unimpressed by Calderano's high-toss serves and single-digit world ranking, put on a pyrotechnic display suitable for any country's celebration of independence. With Shang's lefty forehand loop running the tirelessly athletic Calderano all around the court, the Chinese journeyman quickly built a 2-0 lead over "The Thrill from Brazil." Serving for the match and the championship at 10-9 in the third, Shang lured Calderano out of position with a banana flick-able serve to the forehand. When Calderano took the bait, leaving his backhand exposed, Shang punched a backhand down the line for a winner. In celebration, the beaming Shang erupted in a dance that can only be described as silly, understandably elated for himself and his teammates, and, perhaps subconsciously, for every sidekick in the world. Just like Steve Kerr taking an outlet pass from a Jazz-swarmed Michael Jordan, then hitting a 15-footer from the top of the key to win the 1997 NBA Championship, Shang Kun did not miss his chance to play the hero for the hero. So Robin, the next time you see the bat signal shining in the brooding clouds above Gotham City, go ahead and let the boss sleep in. You got this.

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