The table tennis Asian Championships was a "dark horse", and the Chinese women's team lost unexpectedly
Behind the first defeat of the women's team: the rise of the island nation team or are we too careless?
On the fifth match day of the 2024 Asian Championships, an unexpected scene occurred on the table tennis field. In the women's team final, the Chinese team lost to the island team with a score of 1-3, which is a rare defeat in recent years! To be honest, I was stunned when I saw this result, and I thought I was wrong.
You must know that the Chinese women's team is our "dream team", and it usually sweeps thousands of troops in the international arena. But why did it overturn this time? Could it be that the island nation team has suddenly become stronger, or are we too careless? Anyway, I think it's quite heart-wrenching, and I guess the fans are the same as me, and they feel a little bad in their hearts.
The men's team turned the tide, but the hidden concerns behind it cannot be ignored
Thankfully, the men's team didn't disappoint us. In the men's team final, the Chinese team defeated the Chinese Taipei team with a score of 3-1, and finally saved some face. Truth be told, though, the win wasn't that easy.
Especially Liang Jingkun, this young man lost consecutive games in key games, and I was anxious for him. Tell me, I usually train so hard, why did I drop the chain during the game? I guess, maybe it's too much psychological pressure. After all, it is a great responsibility to represent the country, and the slightest mistake will be magnified.
There is also Lin Shidong, this player is facing four games a day for two consecutive days, which is simply a physical monster! I was tired to watch, let alone himself. With such a high-intensity schedule, I really don't know how he survived. To be honest, I don't think it's reasonable to arrange the competition in this way, because the athletes' bodies are not iron.
Sun Yingsha withdrew, and the Chinese team suffered a "fatal blow"?
Speaking of injuries, we have to mention Sun Yingsha. The highly-anticipated player withdrew from the follow-up competition due to injury, which was a bolt from the blue for the Chinese team!
You think, Sun Yingsha is the pillar of our team, with comprehensive skills and strong psychological quality, and she is the nemesis of many opponents. Her withdrawal from the competition made her feel that the strength of the Chinese team had been weakened a lot all of a sudden. The remaining four girls, Chen Xingtong, Wang Yidi, Shi Xunyao and Kuo Man, are really unknown whether they can carry the banner.
But then again, injuries are inevitable. After all, long-term high-intensity training and competitions, there will always be times when the body can't bear it. I think that instead of blaming Sun Yingsha, it is better to reflect on it, is the training and competition arranged too intensively?
In the doubles melee, can Chinese players stand out from the encirclement?
The next doubles match can be described as a battle of dragons! As soon as the 1/16 finals and 1/8 finals began, all the masters started a fierce battle. To be honest, I was a little dazzled by it.
How did the players of the Chinese team perform in this session? To be honest, I feel both good and bad. Some combinations work together tacitly and play smoothly; But there are also some players who seem to be in poor shape and play a little stumbling.
I think that doubles matches are not only a test of individual skills, but more importantly, tacit understanding. After all, it's two people working together, and if you don't have enough training time, it's hard to perform at your best on the field. So, I think there may be room for improvement in the coaching staff in terms of pre-match pairing and training arrangements.
The singles court is full of gunsmoke, who can have the last laugh?
The singles competition can be said to be the highlight of the Asian Championships. As soon as the 1/32 finals started, the masters from all walks of life did their best. The players of the Chinese team are naturally the center of attention, and everyone expects them to continue their previous brilliant results.
However, I think the situation may not be optimistic this time. You think, Sun Yingsha has withdrawn, and there are only four people left in the women's singles. Although Chen Xingtong and Wang Yidi are all good players, after all, there is one less general, and they always feel that they lack confidence.
Besides, the performances of the island team and the Korea team this time are quite eye-catching, and it seems that they are determined to show their skills at home. I think the players in the Chinese team are probably going to be under a lot of pressure. Hopefully they can adjust their mentality and not be affected by previous defeats.
To be honest, I was quite moved to see these young athletes fighting the field. Regardless of the final outcome, their efforts for the honor of the country deserve our respect. Of course, I still hope that the Chinese team can perform well in the next games, so that we, the fans, can raise their eyebrows again.
But then again, the results of this Asian Championship also give us a wake-up call. Table tennis is our strength, but other countries are catching up. We must not rest on the laurels of the past and sleep on the laurels of the past, but we must always be vigilant and constantly improve our own level. After all, in competitive sports, yesterday's success does not mean today's victory, let alone tomorrow's glory.