Table tennis: Swinging the racket billions of times, achieving a grand slam

Chapter 28 [028] The referee also draws lots

The moment he saw Ding Xiaowei opening the sign slip, his expression changed drastically and he almost cursed on the spot.

Everyone at the scene immediately guessed what happened.

"Could it be that... the last spot in the five groups was drawn by this long-rubber slicer?"

"No way? Didn't he just finish fighting with Chen Jin in the same group?"

"There is no same-group avoidance principle in this round of trials. The probability of being drawn into the same group twice is low, but it does happen."

"Fuck, if he really wins, I suggest he buy a lottery ticket while his luck is good."

"You call this good luck? Clearly, the sins of winning by relying on strange rubbers have accumulated enough, and God is punishing him on purpose."

"That's right, every wicked person will be punished by his own wickedness!"

……

There was constant whispering and discussion outside the venue.

As the person involved, Ding Xiaowei has not yet recovered from the drawing of lots.

My head was buzzing as if I had been struck by lightning.

I just got abused by Chen Jin, and now I’m going to be abused by him again?
Oh my God, do you really want to kill me?

Ding Xiaowei's mouth was full of bitterness.

At this moment.

Li Qian stuck his head out and took a look at the note in Ding Xiaowei's hand, on which was clearly written the number "5".

Even he was a little confused: "Only a few people have drawn lots, and five groups are already complete?"

"I also want to know the inside story."

On the way to carrying the lottery box out, he shook it vigorously to make it evenly mixed.

What's more, all the lots are drawn by the contestants themselves, and outsiders cannot interfere at all.

After thinking about it, there is only one explanation.

——It is God’s will!
"Cough cough."

Li Qian licked his dry lips, coughed twice, and cleared his throat, "Ding Xiaowei, Group 5."

The words have not yet fallen.

The scene was once again in an uproar.

"Hahaha, Ding Xiaowei really got picked in group five."

"Fuck, this guy is so unlucky. He met Chen Jin in both rounds of draws."

"It's what you deserve! This is what happens when you rely on strange glue to win the game."

"Thank you, Master Ding, for clearing the last landmine for us. You are such a good man."

……

Unexpectedly, Ding Xiaowei drew the same group as himself again. Even Chen Jin couldn't hold it anymore.

When Ding Xiaowei left the stage, Chen Jin smiled at him and said, "Another group. We are really destined to be together."

"It's fate, but it's also fate."

Ding Xiaowei said depressedly.

At this point, all the contestants for the fifth group of the second round of round-robin matches have gathered.

But the draw continues.

When Zhang Jiahao came on stage to draw lots, he was already the last one.

"Group seven?"

Zhang Jiahao frowned slightly, with a hint of fear in his eyes, "Then wouldn't I be in the same group with Shu Sanhu?"

"Shu Sanhu?"

Chen Jin vaguely remembered hearing this name when he was drawing lots just now.

The man was tall and strong, with a simple and honest look, and quite old. He did not look like a teenager of fifteen or sixteen at all.

"In the Youth Championship, I was the runner-up and he was the third place."

Putting away his usual playful smile, Zhang Jia's expression became a little solemn.

Obviously, this is a tough opponent for him.

"Oh?"

Chen Jin smiled and said, "Are you worried that you can't beat him?"

"During the Youth Championship, in the group stage, apart from Xie Mingyang, I lost to him alone."

Zhang Jiahao shrugged slightly, "Luckily, I played against Ding Xiaowei in the semi-finals. He was eliminated by Xie Mingyang. Otherwise, he might have been the one who entered the finals."

"Even you have become so humble. It seems that this person is really capable."

Chen Jin immediately became interested, "What kind of fighting method is it?"

"Double-sided loop, basically a quick attack from the middle to the table, rarely retreating, a little weak in running, mostly standing still, but he is tall and has long arms, and has a large area to protect the table. He doesn't play many quick attacks, but focuses on the rate of getting on the table, and his defense is so stable... Damn, my arms were almost broken, and I couldn't get through him at all."

Zhang Jiahao spat, "So we gave him a nickname, 'The Immovable Stone Tiger'."

Having been teammates for two and a half years, Chen Jin understands Zhang Jiahao's character.

There are not many people who can make Zhang Jiahao so fearful before the game.

Chen Jin is one of them, and there are only a handful of others, such as Xie Mingyang and Ding Xiaowei.

"After all, he made it to the semi-finals of the Youth Championship. If he didn't have some strength, he would have been eliminated long ago."

Chen Jin smiled and nodded, "I was not able to participate in the Youth Championship last time, which is a pity. This selection tournament is a good opportunity to make up for it and beat all the masters of the Youth Championship."

The lottery was over. It was nearly eleven-thirty, time for lunch.

Everyone walked out of the training hall and went to the cafeteria to eat.

"The game is at 2pm, and Coach Li asked us to go there ten minutes early to warm up."

On the way to the cafeteria, Zhang Jiahao was full of fighting spirit. "How can ten minutes early be enough? We need to arrive at least half an hour early. Let's practice secretly and surprise everyone."

"Aren't you right, Jin?"

Chen Jin looked Zhang Jiahao up and down, as if examining a stranger: "The fact that you can say the word 'add practice' is really rare."

"..."

Zhang Jiahao rolled his eyes and said, "Brother Jin, if all the pandas in our country starve to death one day, it must be because of you."

Talking and laughing.

The cafeteria is in sight.

After eating and drinking, return to the dormitory.

I lay in bed, browsed my phone for a while, and then took a nap.

I got up on time at 1:20, washed my face with cold water, and set off for the training hall.

When I arrived at the training hall, I found that it was already crowded.

Xie Mingyang, Ding Xiaowei, Shu Sanhu, Chen Zihan...almost all the contestants have started training.

"Fuck, we agreed to arrive ten minutes early to warm up, why are you all here so early?"

Zhang Jiahao was stunned. "I was trying to secretly practice and impress everyone, but I turned out to be the clown?"

"Don't just stand there, find a place to practice."

Chen Jin was quite calm.

One fifty.

Referees including Li Qian entered the venue one after another.

Everyone then stopped training and returned to their positions.

As a result of the first round of competition in the morning, half of the people were eliminated.

Therefore, there were more spectators at the scene.

Table number five is the most crowded.

Ouyang Liangqin and Qin Wenjie were among them and had been waiting for a long time.

Seeing Chen Jin and Ding Xiaowei approaching, the two waved excitedly: "Master Chen Jin, Ding Xiaowei, come on!"

“Please carry the will of our sixteen groups and keep moving forward, compete with style and level, and advance to the next round.”

Chen Jin smiled, raised his hand and made an OK gesture to the two of them.

Ding Xiaowei also clenched his fist and smiled in response.

Walking to the sidelines and putting down his bag, Chen Jin was about to take out his racket, towel and mineral water.

"Hi."

A voice came from behind.

When he turned around, he saw Ding Xiaowei actually took the initiative to greet him.

"You came to practice so early today?"

Chen Jin held the racket, exhaled and laughed.

"We've changed to a new rubber, so come here early to practice and get used to it."

Ding Xiaowei smiled.

"New rubber?"

Chen Jin was slightly startled, "Did you change the rubber?"

"Ah."

Ding Xiaowei nodded and said, "Long rubber with sponge."

As he said that, he took the initiative to walk forward and handed the racket to Chen Jin.

Chen Jin took a look and found that he had indeed changed to long rubber with sponge.

The key to this efficiency is to listen to advice.

"Didn't you say there was no rubber with a sponge?"

"Don't forget, this is the national table tennis team, we don't have any rubbers."

"That's right... But if you change the rubber like you did, it's like a technical change. Can you adapt to it in such a short time?"

"I have confidence."

"That's good. Come on."

"Ah."

While talking.

But Li Qian was seen walking towards table number five with a data sheet in his hand.

Under the watchful eyes of Chen Jin and Ding Xiaowei.

Li Qian sat in the referee's seat carelessly.

Feeling the gazes of the two, Li Qian shrugged slightly and said helplessly: "Don't look at me like that, there is no inside information."

"We also have to draw lots when we are referees."

(End of this chapter)