Zhang Jike Joins PongBot as Global Brand Ambassador, in Partnership with Pong Home

Table tennis training technology just picked up one of the sport's biggest names. At a brand launch event in Shanghai on April 13, 2026, PongBot announced that Grand Slam champion Zhang Jike has signed on as the company's global brand ambassador, timed to the release of its new OMNI PRO training robot and a limited commemorative edition carrying his name. Pong Home has also teamed up with PongBot, so our readers can save 5% on any order with code PH05.

What PongBot Announced

PongBot used the Shanghai event to make two announcements at once. The first was Zhang Jike's appointment as global brand ambassador, a role the company frames around his reputation for precision and uncompromising performance on the table. The second was the OMNI PRO robot itself, released alongside a limited black gold "Zhang Jike Commemorative Edition" aimed squarely at fans and collectors.

The company also confirmed it had closed a Series A funding round around the same period, part of a run of financing that pushed its total raised to roughly 200 million yuan across a series of rounds completed in under a year. PongBot was incubated out of Shanghai University of Sport, and its founder, Zhang Haibo, has a background in computer vision along with more than a decade building training robotics, including work on a national team level table tennis robot.

Who Is Zhang Jike

Zhang Jike is one of only two men in history to complete a career Grand Slam, having won Olympic, World Championship, and World Cup singles titles. His run to the 2011 World Championship title in Rotterdam, completed within roughly a year of turning professional at the top level, remains one of the fastest Grand Slam completions the sport has seen. He is known for an aggressive, high risk backhand and forehand attacking style, and for a fiery, expressive presence on court that made him one of the most recognizable players of his generation.

That name recognition is exactly what a training equipment brand looks for in an ambassador. Robot and ball machine makers have increasingly leaned on retired or active professionals to signal that their products hold up to serious training demands, not just casual weekend practice.

Inside the OMNI PRO Robot

The OMNI PRO sits at the top of PongBot's lineup, built for players, coaches, and clubs who want a realistic, high volume training partner rather than a basic feeder. Key specs include:

• Ball speed and spin: Feeds balls up to 15 meters per second with spin rates as high as 100 revolutions per second, with fully adjustable 360 degree spin control.
• Realistic rally simulation: Delivers up to 90 balls per minute and can switch between short and long balls in as little as 0.66 seconds, closer to the rhythm of a live opponent than a fixed feeding pattern.
• Drill library: Ships with several hundred pre-programmed drills spanning skill levels, plus an open library where users can build, save, and share custom routines through the PongBot app.
• AI-assisted coaching: Training programs adapt feedback based on the player's performance, aiming to close the gap between solo drilling and working with a live coach.
• Control options: Operated through either the E-Pad S handheld controller or the PongBot smartphone app, with multi-language support.

Pong Home x PongBot: Save 5% with Code PH05

Pong Home has partnered with PongBot to bring our community an exclusive 5% discount on all PongBot products! Visit the PongBot Store and find the robot that best fits your training needs and helps take your technique to the next level.

This collaboration is part of Pong Home's ongoing mission to connect our community with equipment that is genuinely worth training on, and code PH05 makes it easier to try PongBot's lineup for yourself.

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