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

Chapter 454 Xie Mingyang VS Hugo! A fierce battle!
In May, the temperature difference between day and night in Doha is so great that it makes you truly understand what it means to "eat watermelon around a stove".

At first, while in the training hall, I was unaware of it.

Training ended at 11 o'clock. As soon as I stepped out of the gate, a cold wind hit my face, as if I had entered the dead of winter, making me shiver.

Chen Jin, Xie Mingyang, and Zhang Jiahao reviewed their training experiences while dragging their slightly tired bodies onto the shuttle bus back to the hotel.

There were already other people in the same car.

Hugo Calderano and Bruna Takahashi (couple), the Le Brun brothers, Tomokazu Harimoto and Miwa Harimoto (siblings), Hayato Togami, Hiroto Shinozuka, Hina Hayata, Ahn Jae-hyun, Seo Hyo-won, Wang Manyu...

Multiple languages, whispered and interwoven.

The vehicle runs smoothly.

Outside the window, the streets of Doha are quiet, but the night view is dazzling with lights.

Zhang Jiahao leaned back in his chair, then suddenly seemed to remember something, took out his phone, and checked the date.

"Today is '520'!"

Zhang Jiahao feigned a sorrowful expression, like a widow on a lonely boat, and sighed softly, "On such a special day, not a single person has confessed their feelings."

"My boyish heart is so cold."

As he spoke, he exaggeratedly clutched his chest, as if he had been heartbroken by a scumbag woman.

Chen Jin turned his head and stared at Zhang Jiahao for a moment, making Zhang Jiahao feel as if his daisies were shrinking and his scalp was tingling.

Before Zhang Jiahao could speak.

Chen Jin cleared his throat and said in a serious tone, "I love you."

"Someone confessed their feelings to you, does that make you feel any better?"

Hear the words.

Knowing that Chen Jin was joking, Zhang Jiahao instantly became a drama queen.

He sat up abruptly, cupped his heart in his hands, and made an extremely exaggerated expression, as if he had been suddenly struck by immense happiness.

Her eyes suddenly lit up, filled with affection as she looked at Chen Jin, her voice trembling with excitement.

"Brother Jin, do you know how long I've waited for you to say that?"

Zhang Jiahao, looking completely absorbed, burst into song, "Do you know, do you know, I've waited until the flowers have withered..."

He was tone-deaf, completely off-key, and had a hoarse, strained voice that was difficult to listen to.

Xie Mingyang frowned deeply, his face already masked with pain.

Although he was wearing Bluetooth headphones, he still couldn't withstand the penetrating power of Zhang Jiahao's ear-piercing voice.

However, the sheer volume of emotion was so overwhelming that even Brother Fly could only sigh in admiration.

Zhang Benmei, who was sitting in the front row, was originally drowsy, but as soon as she heard Chen Jin and Zhang Jiahao's joke, her gossip spirit was suddenly awakened, and she was no longer sleepy.

Turning his head to look at Chen Jin and Zhang Jiahao, he clapped his hands excitedly: "Together, together, together..."

"Together, together, together..."

Zhang Benzhihe smiled wryly, with a hint of doting affection, and clapped and shouted along with his sister.

After this playful escapade, the once lifeless carriage seemed to have stumbled into a lotus-filled paradise, instantly becoming much more lively.

Everyone looked over curiously.

Apart from a few people, Hugo, Togami Hayato, Ahn Jae-hyun, and others were completely unaware of what had happened, their faces filled with bewilderment.

However, judging from the commotion caused by Zhang Ben and his sister, as well as the expressions of Zhang Jiahao and Chen Jin, they could guess what was going on.

What's happening?

Bruna Takahashi asked curiously, "Why did the atmosphere suddenly become so tense?"

Hugo shrugged slightly and spread his hands.

At this moment.

Wang Manyu, Hayata Hina, and several other girls joined in the cheering: "Get together, kiss! Get together, kiss!"

This further piqued the curiosity of others.

Upon inquiry, they suddenly realized the truth.

Bruna Takahashi never expected that May 20th, which was originally just an ordinary day, would be given such a meaning by a pun.

"Mr. Hugo."

Bruna looked at her with deep affection.

"Ok?"

Hugo was slightly taken aback.

"I love you."

Bruna's eyes were alluring.

"me too."

Overwhelmed with emotion, Hugo opened his arms, intending to embrace his lover.

Unexpectedly, he found nothing.

Bruna had already turned around, kneeling on the chair, her hands supporting her on the back, clapping her hands as she joined in, shouting in broken Chinese, "Get together, give each other a kiss!"

It seems they're cheering for some kind of belief.

soon.

More and more people joined in the commotion.

For a moment, the shuttle bus was filled with laughter and cheerful chatter.

The tension and fatigue after training and competition were swept away during this playful time.

On the field, they may be mortal enemies, fighting tooth and nail for every point.

But at this moment, on this shuttle bus traveling through a foreign night, they were just a group of young people who loved to joke, laugh, and make a ruckus.

Despite the language barrier and different skin color, at this moment, there is no distance between our hearts.

Seeing the lively atmosphere, Zhang Jiahao, who was already quite conspicuous, became even more enthusiastic.

He immediately stood up, his face beaming with joy, calm and composed, and clasped his hands together, waving them around a few times.

Thank you, thank you everyone for your blessings.

Zhang Jiahao grinned and said, "Wait for me and Brother Jin to win the men's doubles gold medal. Then we'll treat everyone to some wedding candy."

"Plenty of food, everyone gets a share."

As she spoke, she gently nudged Xie Mingyang, "Hey Xie, help me flip this over."

With a cold glare, Xie Mingyang seemed unwilling, but he did as he was told.

This immediately drew even louder laughter and applause.

"Aho!"

Togami Hayasuke raised his eyebrows, raised his chin, and said loudly, "Yu Sheng は俺たちのものだ."

Chen Jin didn't understand, but seeing Togami Hayabusa's expression, which clearly carried a hint of subconscious provocation, he turned to Xie Mingyang and asked, "What did Togami say?"

He said he was an islander.

Zhang Jiahao laughed.

"Kansai dialect, I didn't quite catch it."

Xie Mingyang glanced at Zhang Jiahao and said, "It's like they're saying the championship belongs to them."

At this Doha World Table Tennis Championships, Togami Hayato not only participated in the men's singles, but also teamed up with Shinozuka Hiroto in the men's doubles.

Although they are not in the same half of the draw as Chen Jin and Zhang Jiahao, the championship gold medal is the goal of every athlete.

Hayato Togami knew very well that there were many top players in the men's singles, and wanting to win the championship was nothing short of a pipe dream.

But men's doubles is different.

The chances of winning the championship have greatly increased.

Faced with Togami Hayabusa's bold provocation, Chen Jin smiled slightly and didn't take it to heart.

In his view, once you step onto the field, if you don't even have the ambition to win the championship, then you are not worthy of being his opponent.

Anyone can talk tough.

Zhang Jiahao raised an eyebrow, his tone sharp as he retorted to Hu Shang, "Trying to ruin my happiness with Brother Jin?"

"It all boils down to one word: death!"

……

5 month 21 day.

Doha World Table Tennis Championships, Day 5.

With the season past the halfway point, the competition is becoming increasingly fierce, and every match is crucial.

At 1 p.m., Xie Mingyang and Hugo will face off.

Chen Jin also has a singles match around 3 PM.

His opponent is Christian Karlsson, a left-handed player.

Therefore, he was training at the venue with Zhang Jiahao and was unable to go to the stadium to watch and cheer for Xie Mingyang.

After the adaptive warm-up training, Xie Mingyang waited backstage accompanied by Li Qian.

"The one surnamed Xie."

Zhang Jiahao shouted at Xie Mingyang's retreating figure, "Don't let Hugo beat you up and make you cry."

Xie Mingyang didn't turn his head, but simply raised his right hand high and silently gave the middle finger.

This encounter with Hugo is also the first time the two have faced off.

Since last month's Macau World Cup, Hugo has shaken off his slump since the Paris Olympics and made history by winning the silver medal, and he seems to have undergone a complete transformation.

Even the thinning hair on the top of his head exuded an aura of strength.

"Hugo is very strong, especially his backhand topspin and fast flick, as well as his mid-to-long-range counter-attack. He has great power and spin, so you must not let yourself get caught up in his rhythm."

Before the match even started, Li Qian said in a deep voice, "Just like Chen Jin said, don't back down from the stage easily. Once you back down, you'll fall into your opponent's advantageous territory."

"Use speed to beat slowness, use your mid-to-close range speed to fight him, don't be afraid of making mistakes, you must dare to take the shot."

"In comparison, you are the one causing the disruption; he carries a greater psychological burden than you, and the pressure is on him..."

Xie Mingyang took a deep breath and nodded emphatically: "Understood."

The referee blew the whistle, and the contestants entered the arena.

Toss a coin and guess who goes first.

Hugo gets the right to serve.

Warm-up with sparring.

Xie Mingyang was getting used to the pool table and the venue while also observing Hugo's performance.

"Snapped!"

"Snapped!"

"Snapped!"

...Hugo retreated from the table and lobbed the ball, while Xie Mingyang calmly defended.

Although the opponent did not use their full strength, the impact of their forehand and backhand attacks could still be felt.

The force of the strikes was so great that it seemed as if each ball carried the weight of a thousand pounds.

He truly lives up to his reputation as a legendary master of strength.

"Chen Jin is right. If I were to compete with Hugo in strength, I would undoubtedly lose."

Xie Mingyang thought to himself, "I must find a way to overcome force with skill and suppress with speed."

soon.

The practice session ended, and the match began.

first round.

Xie Mingyang implemented the tactics and fought resolutely.

They defended the mid-to-close range, transitioned quickly with lightning speed, and seized every opportunity during the rising phase of the game, delivering powerful shots with every single one.

Whether it's forehand or backhand, as long as there's an opportunity, we'll attack without hesitation.

This reckless fighting style was clearly somewhat unexpected for Hugo.

"Is this young man here to compete, or to risk his life?"

Hugo was caught off guard and was given a 1-6 lead by Xie Mingyang at the start of the game.

However, what makes a master a master is Hugo's ability to adapt.

After gradually adapting to Xie Mingyang's playing style, Hugo made timely adjustments and started to catch up.

2: 6.

3: 6.

6: 4.

6: 5.

5:7
……

The score remained close, with the ball going up and down alternately.

Xie Mingyang even took the lead in securing the first game point.

The situation is very good.

However, Hugo was, after all, a veteran with extensive experience.

In crucial points, relying on their profound technical skills and strong mental fortitude, they withstood Xie Mingyang's fierce attacks, resolved the match point, and took the lead.

11: 10.

11: 11.

11: 12.

12:12.
The atmosphere at the scene was so tense it was almost frozen.

Every ball was played with sparks flying.

Xie Mingyang was not discouraged at all by missing the game point. He remained expressionless and persisted with his fighting tactics, squeezing every point out of the gap between his teeth.

Such a fierce battle put Hugo under immense pressure: "Besides Chen Jin, does the Chinese team actually have such a formidable young player?"

In the end, Hugo secured the victory with a serve-and-attack and a backhand topspin that grazed the edge of the court.

13: 15.

Xie Mingyang narrowly lost by two points.

In the second game...

Hugo had adapted to Xie Mingyang's fighting rhythm and was now handling it with greater ease.

A series of powerful backhand smashes broke through Xie Mingyang's mid-range and close-range defense.

11: 7.

Hugo has won another victory.

The score is 2-0.

Break between games.

"In the last game, Hugo clearly started to increase his initiative and aggressive play. In the next game, we must limit his initiative."

Li Qian spoke quickly but clearly: "The serve should focus on whether the short ball has spin or not. When receiving the serve, the short return must have a good landing point and quality. You need to be able to control your hand. If you really can't get it short, don't return it short. Just hit a long ball down the middle and hold it off."

"The transition speed must be fast. After the first shot, you should be ready for the second shot. There can be no gaps."

"The key is to hold the mid-range and close-range positions. Don't instinctively retreat when the opponent attacks; retreating puts you on the defensive..."

According to Li Qian's tactical plan.

In the third game, Xie Mingyang adjusted his strategy, focusing on short, no-spin serves with reverse spin, which effectively limited Hugo's strong attack to some extent.

When receiving serves, pay more attention to the quality and placement of the return, combining long and short shots to disrupt Hugo's positioning and rhythm.

Although Hugo remained dominant, Xie Mingyang executed his tactics resolutely, keeping the score close throughout.

In the later stages of the game, Hugo attempted to open up the game and made decisive moves, but he made a series of mistakes.

11: 8.

Xie Mingyang won a game back.

The score is 1-2.

"Boiled!"

The moment he won, Xie Mingyang clenched his fist tightly, feeling a glimmer of hope for a comeback.

However, in the following fourth game, Hugo quickly adjusted and strengthened his attack.

Especially when receiving serves, they become even more aggressive.

Even when it wasn't the perfect opportunity to strike, he still managed to forcefully sidestep and act decisively.

In addition, the feel is superb.

Xie Mingyang's strategy from the third game proved completely ineffective.

11: 8.

With the score now 3-1, Xie Mingyang was on the brink of elimination.

"It's ok."

Li Qian encouraged, "As long as the game isn't over, there's still a chance to turn things around."

"Don't think about the outcome, just go for it."

"Believe in yourself, you can do it."

Xie Mingyang's face was expressionless, but his eyes shone with an astonishing brightness.

In fact, he didn't need Li Qian's encouragement; the word "give up" simply didn't exist in his dictionary.

Even if it means death, we must fight with all our might until the very last ball!
In the fifth game, Xie Mingyang seemed to have undergone a complete transformation.

It is no longer just about fighting, but about combining the ferocity of fighting with clear tactics.

Recalling his training with Chen Jin, he focused on defending the mid-to-close range, refusing to yield an inch, and using his superior reaction speed and connection speed to counter Chen Jin's attacks, using speed to overcome slowness and maneuvering the landing point.

Hugo suddenly discovered that the path he had taken the initiative to take had been blocked by Xie Mingyang in advance.

Once he steps off the stage, he will be overwhelmed by Xie Mingyang's speed.

The rhythm of the game was completely disrupted.

11: 3.

A lopsided score.

Xie Mingyang actually crushed Hugo, managing to turn the tide of the game.

The score was changed to 2-3.

"Whoo~"

Hugo took a deep breath.

Sweat poured down his forehead and down his cheeks like a waterfall.

Looking at the cold-eyed boy opposite her, a hint of surprise welled up inside her.

"This young man..."

Hugo's pupils suddenly contracted.

He vaguely saw the shadow of another Chinese boy in Xie Mingyang, which made him wary.

Game six.

Hugo dared not slack off in the slightest.

They tried to make changes, forcibly holding their ground in the mid-to-close range, wanting to compete with Hsieh Ming-yang in terms of speed.

However, Xie Mingyang is now in top form.

The connection speed is faster, it uses the opponent's force against them, and the landing point is tricky.

more importantly.

After his resounding victory in the previous game, Xie Mingyang's playing style became even more aggressive and confident.

Both sides launched a breathtaking and rapid offensive in the mid-to-near area, with attacks as fierce as a storm and as deafening as lightning, neither willing to retreat easily.

The audience was dazzled and delighted, and applause thundered.

After a fierce battle, Xie Mingyang ultimately emerged victorious.

12: 10.

The score is 3-3.

"Boiled!"

Xie Mingyang clenched his fist and roared, his momentum unstoppable.

In the rest area on the sidelines, Li Qian jumped up excitedly, punched hard, and roared hoarsely, "Cuo Lei!"

In the stands.

The fans and spectators were thrilled.

"Xie Mingyang!"

"come on--"

……

"come on!"

"Xie Mingyang—"

Although there weren't many people, their unified shouts sounded like a massive army, shaking the entire scene.

Before the match, no one expected that Xie Mingyang, a 15 or 16-year-old boy making his World Table Tennis Championships debut, would be able to push Hugo, one of the world's top players, into a decisive game!

(End of this chapter)