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

Chapter 442 Doha World Table Tennis Championships, Launched!

Doha in May is sweltering with heat.

The sun blazed down, baking the towering buildings along the Persian Gulf.

However, what's even hotter than the weather is the flames of the World Table Tennis Championships that are about to ignite here.

Since the first World Table Tennis Championships in London in 1926, this event, which symbolizes the highest level of competition in the field of table tennis, has been around for nearly a century.

As one of the three major competitions, the World Table Tennis Championships is undoubtedly the hall of fame that table tennis players around the world aspire to.

Countless legends have been born here.

Many famous games have been played here.

128 top players in men's and women's singles and 64 top doubles pairs will fight for the ultimate glory on this stage.

A best-of-seven singles match tests an extreme level of consistency and endurance.

Doubles is a best-of-five match, a contest of absolute teamwork and explosive power.

Every victory requires giving it your all.

Every gain or loss can determine life or death.

However, it is different from previous years.

From the very beginning of its preparations, the Doha World Table Tennis Championships have exuded an unusual atmosphere.

The first point of contention was the pool table.

As requested by the organizers, the pool tables feature a brand-new maroon surface, instead of the traditional blue or green.

The change in the color of the pool table is not as simple as just being unconventional.

The contrast between the colors of the ping-pong ball and the table, the reflectivity of the table, and the effects of prolonged viewing on the eyes all directly affect an athlete's judgment of the ball's spin, speed, and landing point.

Especially in high-speed combat, reaction time of a fraction of a second largely depends on the conditioned reflexes formed by visual capture.

Fortunately, the table tennis equipment for the Doha World Table Tennis Championships was provided by Double Happiness.

During the closed training period, the Chinese national table tennis team had already changed to tables of the same specifications as those used in the Doha World Table Tennis Championships.

After two weeks of closed training, the Chinese national table tennis team members honed every technical aspect of their game against a maroon backdrop, from serving and receiving to rallies.

Even as Wang Liqin said, "We can't change the rules. The only thing we can do is to feel as familiar as if we were in our own training hall when we step onto the field in Doha."

Of course, the feeling on the field is completely different from that in training.

Whether they can adapt remains to be seen.

Besides the pool table.

The most controversial aspect is undoubtedly the major adjustment to the lottery rules.

In the past, the draw ceremony for the World Table Tennis Championships was usually held three days before the competition.

The time allotted to each team to study their opponents and adjust their tactics is tight and full of suspense.

However, this time, the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) deviated from its usual practice and moved the draw date forward by a full two weeks.

The lottery results were released as early as April 30.

When the draw results were announced, the player with the strongest reaction was none other than Picciedford.

Because his first-round opponent was Chen Jin.

Pitchford, this veteran British player, is not unknown in the world of table tennis.

His backhand is incredibly fast and his attacks are fierce; he has defeated Ma Long and Xu Xin.

His highest world ranking was thirteenth.

Now, Picciedford's ranking has slipped to outside the top fifty.

However, it should not be underestimated.

When he learned that his first-round opponent at the World Table Tennis Championships was Chen Jin, he was heartbroken and publicly challenged Chen Jin on his personal social media.

The criticism is directed at the new rule of drawing lots in advance.

"Guys, unbelievable, this is how the ITTF treats the World Championships, just like the WTT rules."

"I'm telling you two weeks in advance, 'Hey, you're going to be number one in the world in your first round. That big boss Chen Jin, you better get ready to go home!'"

"This deprives the competition of its element of chance and also deprives us lower-ranked players of the opportunity to rest and prepare."

“Where’s the fairness?”

These remarks quickly went viral on foreign websites, sparking considerable discussion.

It wasn't just on foreign websites; the situation was equally uproar domestically.

"Drawing lots two weeks in advance? What's the difference between that and an open-book exam?"

"Wow, this is a roundabout way to make the dice win the championship in Doha."

"The ITTF's century-old reputation has been ruined in an instant!"

"It's rotten to the core, let it be destroyed."

……

The Chinese national table tennis team members did not react much to the early draw.

The fact that the first round was conducted openly, targeting training, actually amplified the intensity and unpredictability of the competition.

As Wang Liqin said, "The rules are the same for everyone. I take an open-book exam, and you take an open-book exam. In the end, what we compete in is still skills, tactics, mentality, and willpower. In fact, they are all pretty much the same."

"The most important thing is to do your best."

The third change at the Doha World Table Tennis Championships was the official introduction of the Hawk-Eye replay system.

This technology, which has been successfully applied in sports such as tennis and badminton, has finally made its way into the World Table Tennis Championships.

The rules stipulate that each player has two opportunities to challenge Hawk-Eye per game.

If the challenge is successful, the attempt will not be deducted.

If the challenge is failed, one less chance is lost.

In table tennis matches, the use of Hawk-Eye technology is mostly concentrated in the serve and in disputes involving balls that glide close to the edge of the court.

The Chinese national table tennis team also introduced Hawk-Eye technology during their closed training period.

Especially during serve training.

Within the team, it is generally acknowledged that Wang Chuqin is the one who practices serving the most and for the longest time using Hawk-Eye.

Wang Chuqin's dedication to studying eagle-eye technology borders on obsession.

After the Hawk-Eye system was introduced, he practiced serving for at least two hours almost every day without fail.

Moreover, all of this was carried out under Eagle Eye surveillance.

Under Hawk-Eye's guidance, he precisely controlled the height and angle of every serve.

Another astonishing statistic about the Eagle Eye system belongs to Chen Jin.

In the simulated challenges organized within the team, whether Chen Jin was challenging the opponent's serve or the opponent was challenging Chen Jin's serve, his Hawk-Eye challenge success rate was an astonishing 100%.

In other words, Chen Jin's judgment of serves, his understanding of the rules, and his intuitive talent for game insight have reached a terrifying level.

His eyes are the ruler!
……

5 month 13 day.

The Chinese national table tennis team arrived in Doha four days in advance by chartered plane.

The hatch had just opened.

A wave of dry, scorching air rushed towards me.

It is completely different from the mild and humid climate of the capital city in early summer.

"Doha, here I come!"

Zhang Jiahao, with a wad of toilet paper stuffed in his nostrils, looked into the distance and raised his arms in a shout.

"Leave quickly."

Xie Mingyang said coldly from behind, "Don't block the doorway."

A large group of dozens of people, all dressed in matching national team uniforms.

Wang Chuqin's coaching team alone consists of five people.

In fact, Zhang Lei personally led the team.

It's clear that Wang Chuqin is ambitious and determined to win this World Table Tennis Championships.

"In addition to the coach, the Beijing team also provided Wang Chuqin with physical training and medical care, and even brought a chef."

Zhang Jiahao said in a low voice, "Look at their lineup, and then look at our Shanghai team, we don't even have anyone to see us off."

"What happened to the promised logistical support?"

Hear the words.

Chen Jin smiled slightly but did not say anything.

He certainly knew why Zhang Jiahao was complaining.

But in fact, Wang Liqin had privately spoken to him about this matter.

Originally, the Shanghai team also planned to assign a dedicated team to Chen Jin and Zhang Jiahao, led by Zhang Chao and accompanied by Xu Xin.

Chen Jin politely declined.

His reasoning was simple: "The team already has physical trainers, medical staff, and nutritionists, so there's no need to waste resources."

"You're both from the Beijing team, but look at Wang Chuqin, and then look at you, you don't even have a team."

Zhang Jiahao glanced coldly at Xie Mingyang, "How can there be such a big difference in people's character?"

"I do not need."

Xie Mingyang said calmly, "So I refused."

The implication couldn't be clearer.

"Confused."

Zhang Jiahao was heartbroken, "You can do without the others, but at least bring a chef."

Xie Mingyang ignored him.

Clearing customs, collecting luggage, boarding the bus arranged by the organizing committee... everything was in perfect order.

The bus drove out of the airport and sped along the wide and clean highway.

The tall buildings flash past the window, forming a unique symbiotic landscape with the distant, faintly visible, boundless sand dunes.

Shortly after,
Arrived at the Waldorf Hotel in Lussels.

Stepping into the lobby, one is greeted by its resplendent gold and jade.

The marble floor was so shiny it reflected the light like a mirror.

A huge crystal chandelier casts down dazzling light, and the air is filled with a delicate and expensive fragrance.

Chen Jin and his team competed in various places and stayed in many five-star hotels.

However, it pales in comparison to what's currently available.

"I heard that this hotel has a private beach."

Zhang Jiahao winked and looked around, wondering if anyone was sunbathing on the beach?

"Brother, this is the Middle East."

Chen Jin glared at him.

Check-in was completed quickly.

Each person has a single room.

Playing with the room key in his hand, Zhang Jiahao exclaimed in amazement, "With a piece of cloth over my head, I'm the richest person in the world... This is inhumanly extravagant!"

Chen Jin, Xie Mingyang, and Zhang Jiahao were assigned to the same floor, with their rooms next to each other.

This pleased them quite a bit.

During the competition, familiar teammates stayed together, which allowed them to look after each other and easily visit each other's rooms.

Dragging his suitcase, Chen Jin swiped his card to open his room door.

Neat and clean.

A spacious and bright sea-view room.

Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, there was a vast expanse of blue.

The Persian Gulf shimmered under the sunlight, dotted with a few white yachts.

Turning around and looking out the window on the other side, all that could be seen at the horizon were rolling yellow sand dunes, slightly distorted by the heat.

On one side is a vast, blue ocean, and on the other side is a boundless, desolate desert.

Two completely different and magnificent landscapes are simultaneously contained in the same room, giving people a surreal sense of beauty.

Chen Jin put down his luggage, walked to the window, and quietly watched.

I picked up my phone and snapped a few photos.

Afterwards, I tidied up my things.

Settling in is complete.

Zhang Jiahao knocked on Chen Jin's door and invited Xie Mingyang to explore the hotel together.

An Olympic-standard indoor swimming pool, a fully equipped modern gym, a spa, and multiple restaurants offering various cuisines...

Zhang Jiahao wasn't very interested in things like swimming pools and gyms.

But as soon as they arrived at the restaurant, their eyes lit up, their mouths watered, and they couldn't move an inch.

I rested for a night and adjusted to the time difference.

The following day, the Chinese national table tennis team began pre-match venue adaptation training.

The Doha World Table Tennis Championships adopted a "main and auxiliary venues" model.

The main stadium is the Lusail Stadium, which has hosted many major international sporting events.

Most of the key matches will be played here.

As for the secondary venue, it is the Qatar University Gymnasium, which is mainly used for some of the preliminary matches.

The problem is that the distance between the two venues is as long as 15 kilometers.

Even with dedicated vehicles and traffic coordination arranged by the organizing committee, a one-way trip in Doha's traffic conditions still takes about 30 minutes.

This means that training and competition schedules will require switching between the two venues.

The athletes will have to spend a lot of time on the road.

This is undoubtedly an extra strain on athletes who need to maintain a high level of focus and peak physical condition.

On the first day of acclimatization training, everyone experienced the pain of traveling between different locations.

In the morning, I experienced the central venue of the opening ceremony at the Lusail Main Hall, and in the afternoon, I needed to rush to the Qatar University Gymnasium.

On the bus, looking out at the seemingly endless highway, Zhang Jiahao felt drowsy.

"This distance... I have a feeling that we're not here to compete, but rather to participate in a desert rally in Doha."

Zhang Jiahao couldn't help but complain, "Running back and forth like this every day, my energy hasn't even been used up on the track yet, but it's already being used up on the roads in Doha."

His tone carried a hint of resentment.

"You talk too much, kid."

Li Qian glared at him. "I'll say it again: the rules are the same for everyone."

"We have to travel, and so do others."

"Instead of complaining on the way, you should focus on the competition."

Zhang Jiahao raised his chin slightly, as if he was confident: "Coach Li, don't worry, I have carefully studied the opponents in the first round of doubles."

"As long as Kim and I... mainly me, play normally, we should be able to beat Poland's Samuel Kurczyki and Milos Redzimski."

Hear the words.

Chen Jin paused for a moment: "Miloš Redzimski? That name sounds familiar."

"Brother Jin, have you forgotten?"

Zhang Jiahao laughed and said, "You played against Milos in the World Cup group stage last month and beat him 11-0."

"I remembered."

Chen Jin gave a bitter smile, "So we're going to have to fight again so soon?"

Last World Cup, he accidentally beat Milos Redzimskiy 11-0, which made him feel a little guilty.

Unexpectedly, the Doha World Table Tennis Championships brought them together again.

Moreover, this was their first encounter.

Although it changed from singles to doubles.

"He was utterly crushed by Kim in singles, I don't believe he can turn the tables in doubles!"

Zhang Jiahao patted his chest confidently, "Instructor Li, you can rest assured and watch Jin Ge and I perform."

"Instead of worrying about me and Brother Jin, you should worry about that guy surnamed Xie."

Xie Mingyang's first-round opponent is Shinozuka Hiroto of the Japanese team.

They are equally formidable rivals.

"The one surnamed Xie."

Zhang Jiahao leaned back in his chair, stood up slightly, and said to Xie Mingyang, who was sitting in the front row, "If this is your first time participating in the World Table Tennis Championships, don't try to get into the top 128 and make history for the Chinese national table tennis team. That would be a huge joke."

"You'd better lose to Shinozuka Hiroto, then I can laugh at you for the rest of my life, hahahaha..."

Xie Mingyang crossed his arms, his eyes slightly closed, completely ignoring Zhang Jiahao's words.

"You can rest assured."

Xie Mingyang didn't even lift his eyelids, and said calmly, "I will never let you have your way."

(End of this chapter)