Randy Daytona

Randy Daytona is the main protagonist of the 2007 sports comedy film Balls of Fury.
He is a former table tennis prodigy whose career derailed after a disastrous performance in the 1988 Olympics, leading to his father's murder by loan sharks. Years later, he is recruited by the FBI to infiltrate a deadly underground ping-pong tournament run by the criminal mastermind Feng. Randy trains rigorously, faces numerous life-threatening challenges, and ultimately seeks redemption by taking down Feng's operation.
He was portrayed by in his first leading role, who also played Jacob Kowalski in Fantastic Beasts.
== Biography ==
Eleven-year-old Randy Daytona becomes nervous upon discovering that his father, Peter, has placed a bet on his performance in the 1988 Summer Olympics table tennis finals. During the semi-final match against Karl Wolfschtagg of East Germany, Randy has an accident and gets injured, leading to his loss. Loan sharks working for the criminal mastermind Feng kill his father, prompting Randy to quit competitive ping-pong.
Nineteen years later, Randy is approached by FBI agent Ernie Rodriguez, who asks for his help in arresting Feng for gunrunning. Feng's secret jungle hideout hosts an underground table tennis tournament, and Randy’s invitation is the FBI's ticket to infiltrate Feng’s operation. Randy agrees, and Rodriguez advises him to win enough championships to get noticed by Feng's scouts. After losing a local tournament, Randy begins training under Master Wong, a blind man in Chinatown who once mentored Feng. Randy also meets Wong’s niece, Maggie. When locals vandalize Wong’s home for breaking their rule against teaching white people ping-pong, Randy has to play against "The Dragon," a young girl, to secure Wong’s right to stay. Randy wins but gets punched in the process, catching the attention of Feng's men, who take Randy, Rodriguez, and Wong to Feng’s hideout.
Randy wins his first match against Freddy "Fingers" Wilson but is unnerved to learn that losing means death by a poisoned dart from Feng's henchman, Mahogany. Randy tries to escape, but Feng tempts him to switch sides, revealing that Randy only completed half of Wong's training. Feng also shows Randy a modified ping-pong table that delivers electric shocks through special vests. Randy tips off Rodriguez about a cache of illegal guns that could imprison Feng. While Rodriguez investigates, Randy wins several matches.
When Randy discovers Wolfschtagg is his final opponent, he asks for extraction. Rodriguez devises a plan to injure Randy, allowing him to concede safely. Rodriguez breaks Randy's arm, but Randy changes his mind at the last minute. Feng uncovers Rodriguez’s FBI contacts and forces Randy to play Wolfschtagg but then substitutes Maggie. When Wolfschtagg protests, Feng kills him. Randy, playing one-handed, stalls for time as Maggie tries to lose on purpose. However, Randy uses his skills to hit Maggie with the ball, leading to their escape attempt. Feng orders their execution, but Maggie saves Randy from a poisonous dart. Randy kills Mahogany with a poisoned paddle. The FBI raids the facility, but Randy’s attempt to rescue Feng’s slaves results in their capture. Feng challenges Randy to a final match to determine the superior student.
During the match, Randy sets off the self-destruct sequence by tripping Feng’s bodyguard. Feng reveals the suits can’t be deactivated and changes the rules to allow the ball to bounce off any surface. The game spans several buildings and ends on a bridge over a river. Wong advises Randy to exploit Feng’s weak backhand, leading to Feng's electrocution and fall into the river. Randy and his friends escape on Wong’s boat as the facility explodes. Two months later, they reunite for the reopening of Wong’s rebuilt shop, which also hosts ping-pong games. Wong accidentally falls down an elevator shaft, shocking Randy, Rodriguez, and Maggie.
Category:Comedy Heroes
Category:Male
Category:Movie Heroes
Category:Masterminds
Category:Cowards