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

Chapter 32 [032] A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind

Half past ten in the evening.

The national table tennis training hall is still brightly lit.

There were three rounds of round-robin matches a day, and by this point, only eight contestants were left out of the original sixty-four.

They are Chen Jin, Xie Mingyang, Zhang Jiahao, Ding Xiaowei, Shu Sanhu, Yuan Qiang, Wang Chenfeng, and Xu Yutian.

The final draw results for the fourth round of round-robin matches.

Group one: Chen Jin, Ding Xiaowei, Shu Sanhu and Xu Yutian.

Group 2: Xie Mingyang, Zhang Jiahao, Wang Chenfeng, and Yuan Qiang.

After collecting the data sheet, Li Qian held the lottery box, glanced around and said, "Go home tonight and rest early. The fourth round of the round-robin tournament will start on time at 8:30 tomorrow morning."

Go back to dorms.

Coach Wu and Coach Zhang had been waiting for a long time.

Due to the rules of this selection competition, coaches of each team are not allowed to provide on-site guidance in the first three rounds of the round-robin competition.

Therefore, Coach Wu and Coach Zhang basically rested in the dormitory.

Or just stroll around the capital.

Coach Wu, in particular, is well aware of the strength of Chen Jin and Zhang Jiahao and is very confident.

Just walked in the door.

Zhang Jiahao shouted loudly: "Coach Wu, Coach Zhang, Chen Jin and I fought hard and both made it to the quarterfinals."

Coach Wu was very calm about this, as if he had already expected it.

Instead, Coach Zhang asked: "Both of them scored?"

"OK."

Zhang Jiahao looked excited, but suddenly he noticed something was wrong. "Coach Zhang, are you surprised by this result?"

"I think it's no problem for Chen Jin to make it to the quarterfinals. As for you..."

Coach Zhang paused deliberately.

"Coach Zhang, we are all from the Zhang family. According to seniority, I have to call you uncle. Do you look down on your own nephew so much?"

Zhang Jiahao was heartbroken, "I am at least the runner-up of the Youth Championship. If I can't make it to the quarterfinals, that would be called an upset."

Seeing Zhang Jiahao's aggrieved and unconvinced look on his face, Coach Wu and Coach Zhang looked at each other and laughed heartily.

Chen Jin put his backpack down on the ground and asked casually, "Coach Zhang, how is the women's team doing in the promotion?"

The smile on Coach Zhang's face suddenly disappeared, and he sighed: "We all lost in the quarterfinals."

"He Xue also lost?"

Chen Jin was a little surprised.

"Yes."

Coach Zhang smiled bitterly, "He Xue's luck in the draw wasn't very good. She met Ye Sijia from the Beijing team and Lin Xinyu from the Liaoshen team in the round of 16."

"These two are really too strong. They are likely to be the champion and runner-up of the women's team in this selection competition."

Chen Jin was not very clear about the situation of the women's team.

It’s just that the players from the same provincial team were eliminated, which made me feel a little disappointed and I felt sorry for He Xue and the other person.

"Pity."

Zhang Jiahao sighed and shook his head, "Coach Zhang, are you going back to the provincial team tomorrow?"

"Why are you going back to the provincial team tomorrow?"

Coach Zhang asked, "Don't you and Chen Jin have a match tomorrow?"

"Isn't Coach Wu here to monitor the match between me and Chen Jin?"

Zhang Jiahao was slightly stunned.

"Student Zhang, you need to understand this clearly."

Coach Zhang stood up and tapped Zhang Jiahao on the forehead. "For this tryout, in name only, Mr. Wu is the team leader. I am your real coach."

"Oh."

Zhang Jiahao grinned and rubbed his forehead, "I almost forgot."

"But you can't blame me for this. The key is that Coach Zhang, your presence is too low."

Although he spoke the last few words in a very low voice, Coach Zhang still heard them.

"you--"

Coach Zhang raised his hand, as if he was going to give Zhang Jiahao a hard slap.

Seeing that the situation was not good, Zhang Jiahao was so scared that he ran away and rushed to the bathroom: "You guys chat slowly, I'm going to take a shower first." Looking at Zhang Jiahao's back, Coach Zhang smiled dotingly: "This kid!"

……

The next morning.

Chen Jin's work and rest schedule is unchangeable.

After returning from running, he took a shower and headed to the cafeteria with everyone else.

Then, we came to the training hall.

This time, Coach Wu and Coach Zhang were present to guide the training.

Of course, the focus of training is Zhang Jiahao.

"Zhang Jiahao, your main opponent in the quarterfinals is still Xie Mingyang. You are already very familiar with his playing style, and he is also very familiar with you."

Coach Wu analyzed, "In terms of basic skills and basketball IQ, even if you practice for another two or three years, you probably won't be a match for Xie Mingyang."

Zhang Jiahao: “???”

I originally thought that Coach Wu was going to teach me the secret to defeating Xie Mingyang, but I didn't expect Coach Wu to say such a thing.

Zhang Jiahao almost cried: "Coach Wu, can you not be so frank? It hurts my self-esteem."

"Listen to what I have to say first."

Coach Wu said calmly, "You must remember that your goal in this quarterfinal match is not to defeat Xie Mingyang, nor to avenge your previous defeat, but to secure two points and advance to the next round."

"That is to say, your real opponents are the other two people."

These words were like an epiphany for me.

Zhang Jiahao suddenly understood and nodded solemnly: "Coach Wu, I understand."

"I played against Wang Chenfeng and Yuan Qiang during the Youth Championship. I know them well. It will be no problem for me to beat them."

Coach Wu reminded: "Don't underestimate the enemy. We should despise the opponent strategically, but we must take it seriously tactically."

"clear."

Zhang Jiahao put away his usual playful expression and looked serious, so serious that it made people feel unfamiliar.

After giving instructions to Zhang Jiahao.

Coach Wu took a sip of water to moisten his lips and throat, then turned to look at Chen Jin.

"Chen Jin, I don't have anything to tell you."

Coach Wu paused, walked forward, and stood only a few feet away from Chen Jin. He lowered his voice and said earnestly, "But sometimes when playing basketball, you don't have to be so ruthless."

"A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind. After you finished your game that night, someone came to talk to me about this matter yesterday..."

Although Coach Wu did not say it explicitly, Chen Jin knew it in his mind.

"I see."

Chen Jin looked calm and said from the bottom of his heart, "Thank you, Coach Wu."

"You are still young and have a long way to go. I hope you can go further."

Coach Wu patted Chen Jin's shoulder gently and said, "Of course, some things touch the bottom line. We must fight for what we should fight for and never give in."

"Yes!"

Chen Jin nodded seriously.

From Coach Wu’s words, he could deeply feel the earnest expectations and concerned advice like an old father before his departure.

After saying that, Coach Wu opened his mouth, seeming to want to say something else.

But in the end, I didn't say it.

He gave Chen Jin an encouraging smile and patted Chen Jin's shoulder heavily.

Then, he turned and walked away.

He didn't take a few steps.

Coach Wu suddenly stopped again and shouted without turning his head.

"Chen Jin."

Coach Wu said softly, "If I were ten years younger, I would accompany you all the way even if it cost me my old bones."

"But now... maybe I can only accompany you here."