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

Chapter 420 Revitalizing the Glory of Straight Grips, Tonight!
Under the lights, the ITTF Men's World Cup trophy, placed at the end of the runway, shone brightly.

—The Evans Cup!
The base of the trophy is densely engraved with names belonging to different eras.

Guo Yuehua, Jiang Jialiang, Chen Longcan, Ma Wenge, Kong Linghui, Liu Guoliang...

Among them, Ma Lin and Fan Zhendong's names appeared on the championship trophy four times.

Time, like a carving knife, etchs itself stroke by stroke.

What was carved out was not just glory, but also the gaze of those who came after.

The live broadcast of the event is focused on this holy grail that countless table tennis players pursue throughout their lives.

xuperman's live stream.

Xu Xin sat in front of the screen, his gaze seemingly piercing through the lens, landing directly on a corner of the trophy.

"Eh eh eh..."

Xu Xin tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his voice carrying a subtle, distant quality, "My name is on it too."

My thoughts and memories instantly returned to 2013.

At the age of 23, he lifted this trophy, representing the pinnacle of men's singles, for the first and only time.

Golden confetti fell like raindrops.

The cheers were deafening, and their hearts were filled with the ecstasy and bewilderment of reaching the summit for the first time.

What I thought was just the beginning turned out to be the peak.

"envious."

Sitting next to him, Cheng Jingqi's face showed undisguised longing.

These two simple words came from the bottom of my heart.

As a table tennis player, he certainly knew what an honor it was to have his name engraved on the Evans Cup.

"What's there to be envious of?"

Xu Xin tugged at the corners of his mouth, raising a self-deprecating arc. His voice was deliberately relaxed, but he couldn't hide the bitterness deep inside. "In the past, everyone called the World Cup 'water cup,' because it wasn't very prestigious."

"The World Cup title I won was like water in water."

Since winning the World Cup in 13, he has never won a singles title in the three major tournaments again.

Some even mocked him, saying that he, who stood on the podium as the men's team champion at the Rio Olympics alongside Zhang Jike and Ma Long, was not worthy of the title "Three Musketeers".

After listening to Xu Xin's words.

Cheng Jingqi was taken aback for a moment, pondered for a while, and said seriously, "The World Cup started in 1980 and has been held every year. Over the past few decades, the world of table tennis has changed dramatically, with top players emerging like fish in a river. Yet, only twenty or thirty names have been engraved on this trophy."

"Forty-five years, forty-three sessions, countless table tennis players, one after another, fought desperately, dreaming of engraving their names on the trophy, even just once."

"But how many people can truly do that?"

Isn't Wang Liqin strong?

Isn't Ryu Seung-min strong?

Isn't Joo Se-hyuk strong?

Chen Qi, Fang Bo, Zhou Yu, Yan An, Liang Jingkun, Lin Gaoyuan, Lin Yunru, Zhang Benzhihe... Aren't they strong?

Don't they want to have their names engraved on the Evans Cup?
Even Cheng Jingqi, in his youthful arrogance, never imagined that one day his name would be engraved on this trophy that symbolizes glory.

Hear the words.

Xu Xin smiled.

He sensed a hint of resentment in Cheng Jingqi's words.

"Am I going through Versailles again?"

Xu Xin said.

"A little."

Cheng Jingqi shrugged slightly.

"However, there's a reason why the World Cup used to be called the 'water cup'."

Xu Xin then changed the subject, "Because at that time, the number of participants was limited, and each association could only send two people to participate, so the competitive pressure was indeed not that great."

"But things are different now. Each association has four entry slots, with a maximum of six, which has significantly increased the level of competition."

"The competition format is also different. Every match is a tough battle. If you want to win the championship, you have to fight your way through with real skill."

"The value of this championship is now much greater than it used to be."

"Tonight's men's singles final is all about Chen Jin and Hugo Calderano. Who will be able to have their name engraved on the trophy in the end?"

The final two were Chen Jin, who was participating in the World Cup for the first time and was definitely a newcomer.

Although Hugo had participated several times, this was his first time reaching the finals.

more importantly.

Neither of them has won a major championship.

Therefore, both of them are eager for this first title.

"If I remember correctly, Brother Xin, you should be the last penhold grip player to win the three major championships, right?"

Cheng Jingqi said.

"You remembered wrong."

Xu Xin smiled.

"what?"

Cheng Jingqi was taken aback again. "Did I remember wrong? I don't think so."

"I'm not the last one."

Xu Xin said seriously, "I was just the previous one."

"However, there was a rather long interval in between."

Twelve years, a complete cycle.

"Hopefully, Chen Jin will get his wish this time."

With a bang, Xu Xin slammed his fist on the table, "Tonight, we'll restore the glory of the straight grip!"

Speaking of which.

His gaze shifted to the popularity of the live stream, and he was startled.

"Wow, how come there are so many people in just a few minutes?"

Xu Xin's eyes widened. "You've taken me straight to first place?"

"Chen Jin is a penhold grip player, and you, Xin Ge, are also a penhold grip player, so everyone will definitely flock to you."

Cheng Jingqi said, "Besides, I saw on the trending topics that Brazil made a tough statement saying they'd tear down the Great Wall in Macau tonight. Who the hell wouldn't be angry when they heard that?"

"Chen Jin is under a lot of pressure in tonight's game."

His expression and tone revealed a hint of worry.

After all, it is one of the three major tournaments, completely different from commercial tournaments like WTT.

Although Chen Jin had performed exceptionally well before, it was his first time participating in such a major competition, and no one could predict whether he could withstand the pressure.

What if we lose the championship...

Cheng Jingqi simply couldn't imagine it.

"I believe Chen Jin can do it."

Xu Xin's gaze was firm. "If all else fails, watch me set up my formation and make a comeback."

"Uh……"

Cheng Jingqi asked, "Brother Xin, what do you think Chen Jin should do to beat Hugo tonight?"

"The key is in the first three moves. We must suppress Hugo tightly and not let him comfortably enter the stalemate rhythm he is good at."

Xu Xin immediately became serious, tapping his finger on the table as if tracing the trajectory of the ball. "Hugo's backhand is extremely threatening. Although Chen Jin's backhand is also very strong, it's best not to go head-to-head with him. Use the trajectory and spin to move him around, avoid his strengths, and attack when he's unprepared..."

While talking.

Both teams have entered the arena.

The rest area on the sidelines.

Chen Jin, dressed in a red team uniform and holding a towel, paced back and forth quietly, listening to Wang Hao's pre-match instructions.

Wang Hao remained calm and composed as he leaned closer to Chen Jin, his lips moving rapidly, clearly outlining his tactics.

"I bet Hao-ge will say something like this..."

Xu Xin laughed and said, "Relax, enjoy the game, and treat it like a regular training session."

however.

The words have not yet fallen.

The director deliberately increased the volume of the live sound.

Wang Hao's voice, though deliberately lowered, still carried a sense of power and clearly penetrated the background noise of the live stream.

"...Be decisive, firm, and a little fierce, it's okay, do whatever makes you comfortable."

"From the very first ball, you must make your opponent feel your killing intent, make him fear you, and dread you!"

"Don't hold back when you win, shout it out loud and overwhelm your opponent with your momentum."

"Understand?"

Xu Xin's smile froze instantly, and a clear look of astonishment flashed in his eyes.

He subconsciously touched his chin, muttering to himself in disbelief, "This...this seems a bit different from Brother Hao's usual off-court coaching style?"

A sharp whistle pierced the tense atmosphere of the stadium.

“Time!”

The referee reminded them, "Be decisive! Be firm!"

Wang Hao shouted, "Pay attention to continuity! Pay attention to transitions!"

"come on!"

After a high-five with Wang Hao, Chen Jin turned and strode towards the brightly lit arena in the center of the field.

The red battle robe swayed slightly with each step.

The light outlined the young man's profile, which was youthful yet already showed signs of determination.

As Wang Hao watched Chen Jin's retreating figure, he seemed to see a long-forgotten ancient sword suddenly drawn from its sheath, its cold light flashing, carrying an unwavering determination to cleave the sky.

"Whoo~"

Wang Hao exhaled a breath of stale air before sitting down, his hands tightly clasped to his chest.

A hint of tension appeared on that usually composed face.

Despite Chen Jin's undefeated record since his debut, he has never lost a single competition, big or small.

They swept through the land as if it were empty.

But this is the World Cup final.

The opponent was Hugo, who had gone berserk and killed three opponents in one go.

Any flaw, even the slightest mistake, will lead to a fall into the abyss, resulting in utter destruction.

"What if we lose this match..."

This terrifying thought, like a cold, venomous snake, silently crept into Wang Hao's mind and coiled around his heart: "What kind of blow would this be to Chen Jin?"

Wang Hao dared not think too deeply about it.

After all, he had a very painful experience back then.

He was fully aware of the feelings involved.

Playing on home soil in Macau, facing pre-match provocations from opponents, the expectations of fans, and the glory of the Chinese national table tennis team... all the pressure rests on the shoulders of a sixteen-year-old boy.

Public opinion, like an invisible tsunami, is already on the shore, poised to erupt.

In fact, as the head coach of the men's table tennis team, Wang Hao also faces considerable pressure.

But he was powerless to do anything about it.

All their hopes could be pinned on Chen Jin.

"Chen Jin, it's up to you now."

Wang Hao silently shouted in his heart, "Keep going, you have to hold on!"

the other side.

Hugo, calm yet slightly excited, gave his coach a light hug, then picked up a towel and casually wiped his face.

He then jogged onto the field.

They approached the referee.

At this moment, Chen Jin was already standing on the opposite side, waiting quietly.

The young man stood tall and straight, his face calm, his eyes looking straight ahead, showing neither joy nor anger, yet possessing an aura of profound composure and unyielding strength.

It wasn't arrogance or swagger, nor was there a trace of tension or fear.

Rather, it is the result of rigorous training and refinement that cultivates absolute confidence in one's own abilities.

"What a strong murderous aura!"

This was the first time Hugo had observed Chen Jin so closely, and he couldn't help but gasp.

Since the Paris Olympics, the world of table tennis has been fraught with ups and downs.

The most sensational event was the withdrawal of Fan Zhendong, Ma Long, and Chen Meng from the world rankings.

Especially Fan Zhendong.

He even single-handedly confronted WTT, forcing WTT to reform.

Chen Jin's sudden emergence also caused a significant stir in the world of table tennis.

At such a young age, he possesses extraordinary abilities.

He defeated many top players and reached the top of the world in just six months.

Such terrifying strength and record are astonishing.

At the age of sixteen, he had already become a formidable force in the world of table tennis, striking fear into the hearts of many.

Although they had never fought before, how could Hugo not know Chen Jin?

However, knowing Chen Jin is one thing, but standing in front of Chen Jin and becoming his opponent is another.

An overwhelming aura emanated from Chen Jin, like a thunderbolt hanging overhead, making everyone tremble with fear.

Even though Hugo was a seasoned veteran, a hint of surprise flashed across his eyes, and his hand holding the racket trembled slightly.

Even he himself couldn't tell whether it was excitement or fear.

But, only for a fleeting moment.

Hugo clenched his fist tightly, his knuckles turning white.

The surprise in his eyes was replaced by a burning fighting spirit.

"I'm sure I can win this match!"

Hugo roared silently in his heart, cheering himself on, "I will definitely break Chen Jin's undefeated streak and shatter the Chinese team's undefeated myth!"

"Winning the finals tonight!"

A tremendous wave of sound surged in from all directions, with cheers, shouts, and chants weaving together into a boiling ocean.

however.

The moment Chen Jin and Hugo reached out their hands across the table and briefly shook hands.

All the noise seemed to be shut out by an invisible barrier.

Two hands, one young yet steady and powerful, the other bursting with wild energy, separated at the slightest touch.

The air suddenly tightened in that grasp, like a fully drawn bowstring.

Followed by.

A coin is tossed into the air.

A flash of silver light appeared and finally settled in the referee's palm.

Chen Jin has the right to serve.

Then, as is customary, they warmed up with sparring.

"Snapped!"

"Snapped!"

"Snapped!"

……

A forehand forward thrust, combining defense and offense.

The same applies to a quick backhand rip.

Hugo even retreated to the middle of the table and unleashed several powerful backhand shots.

Chen Jinxin immediately understood: "Hugo's backhand, whether in terms of power or spin, is indeed stronger than his forehand."

The two-minute sparring session passed quickly.

Chen Jin and Hugo walked to the referee's table, picked up their towels, and wiped their sweat.

But after putting down the towel, Hugo jogged half a lap around the field.

Back at the table, I jumped around a few times.

Exercise your hands and feet to relieve stress and tension.

"Boiled!"

With a thunderous roar, Hugo stood on the left side of the table, crouched down, his eyes level with the table, his gaze sharp as lightning, intently watching Chen Jin's every move.

It was as if a cheetah was lurking, poised to pounce.

Chen Jin held a ping-pong ball, slammed it to the ground a few times, and then blew on it.

His gaze was calm, but he glanced sideways.

Hugo was already in the ready position to receive the serve, and he gently tossed the ping-pong ball onto the table.

"Da da da, da da da..."

The small white ball bounces endlessly.

Suddenly, Chen Jin grabbed him and placed him in his left palm.

At this moment, Chen Jin was bent over, his body pressed tightly against one side of the end line of the table.

The scene was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone held their breath, and countless eyes, like spotlights, focused on Chen Jin.

Time seemed to have stood still.

A blink of an eye and a thousand years.

Chen Jin suddenly moved.

With a slight effort in his left hand, he tossed the ball upwards.

The small white ball, under the eager gaze, traced a straight arc.

The competition officially begins.

(End of this chapter)