In the Saudi Grand Slam on May 6, a sudden withdrawal shocked the table tennis world. The high-profile South Korean women's table tennis star Zhu Qianxi suddenly announced her retirement due to physical discomfort on the eve of the competition, which undoubtedly cast a shadow on this competition. Zhu Qianxi, as a Chinese celebrity, occupies a pivotal position in South Korean women's table tennis, and her withdrawal not only made fans feel sorry, but also made the next game full of variables.
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Zhu Qianxi's retirement directly led to her opponent, Japan's Miu Hirano, who won without a fight and directly advanced to the top 16 of women's singles. Although this result made Miu Hirano easily advance, it also deprived her of a chance to compete with a strong opponent. However, the charm of sports competition lies in its uncertainty, and this withdrawal has undoubtedly added more suspense and anticipation to the upcoming games.
Zhu Qianxi's retirement not only affected her personal competition plan, but also had a profound impact on the course of the entire event. First, her withdrawal made the otherwise suspenseful contest a little monotonous, as Miu Hirano will wait for her opponent in the next round after winning without a fight. Secondly, Zhu Qianxi's withdrawal also had a certain impact on the team strength of the Korean women's table tennis, after all, she is the scorer in the team.
Regarding the reason for Zhu Qianxi's withdrawal, the current official explanation is that she is unwell. Judging from the unidentified object she was wearing on her ear in the first round, she may have had signs of discomfort before the match. However, there is no definite information on what exactly causes the physical discomfort. We can only hope that she recovers as soon as possible and returns to the game.
Other withdrawals
In addition to Zhu Qianxi, there are other players and combinations who have also suffered withdrawals. Pitchford dropped out of the men's doubles contest, which undoubtedly caused his partner Kinkhor a lot of problems. At the same time, Assal/Meshev also announced their withdrawal, leaving their opponents Kukulova/Natalia to win without a fight.
These withdrawals have undoubtedly had a certain impact on this competition. Not only did it change the course of the game, but it also deprived some players of the opportunity to compete against strong opponents. However, it is also an inevitable part of sports competition. The physical health of the athletes is the most important thing, and we cannot ignore their physical condition because of the competition.
Miu Hirano's race far
Miu Hirano lost 1-3 to Liu Yangzi/Wu Yonglin in the Women's Doubles match with her partner Miwa Zhang, which undoubtedly drew a regrettable end to her doubles journey. However, in the women's singles, she unexpectedly advanced to the round of 16 because of Zhu Qianxi's retirement.
For Miu Hirano, the loss in women's doubles may be a big blow. However, as an experienced athlete, she should be able to quickly adjust her form and turn her attention to the women's singles match. After all, in table tennis, singles and doubles are two completely different ways of playing, requiring players to have different skills and tactics.
Chen Meng's challenge
As the main player of national table tennis, Chen Meng has always been under tremendous pressure. In her next bout, she will likely face the hard-hitting Japanese Miu Hirano. This is undoubtedly a serious challenge for Chen Meng.
Miu Hirano has already shown her strength in her previous fights, not only technically but also mentally resilient. Although Chen Meng's strength is good, he also needs to adjust his state and play his best when facing strong opponents.
More importantly, this game is of great significance to Chen Meng. If she can overcome Hirano, she will undoubtedly add an important weight to her future Olympic singles qualification competition. However, if she loses, then she could face a lot of pressure and challenges. Therefore, this game can be said to be a battle that cannot be lost.
This Saudi Grand Slam is full of variables and challenges. From Zhu Qianxi's retirement to Miu Hirano's unexpected promotion, to the severe challenge that Chen Meng is about to face, every game is full of suspense and anticipation. As spectators, we can only hope that the players can bring out their best and bring us exciting matches.