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

Chapter 460 Chen Jin VS Togami Hayabusa, an unconventional pause!
Physiotherapy room.

The light is soft and the temperature is pleasant.

A faint smell of mixed medicinal oil and disinfectant floated in the air.

Chen Jin lay face down on the bed, shirtless.

The accompanying physical therapists pressed and tapped his shoulders, back, waist, legs, and arms, using professional equipment with skillful techniques.

The soreness from the high-intensity competition gradually subsided under the precise massage of the physiotherapist.

However, the tension in one's nerves is difficult to relax immediately.

A tablet was set up in front of Chen Jin.

On the screen, the match between Togami Hayato and Dako from yesterday is playing.

The match footage was particularly intense.

The sounds of hitting the ball, footsteps, and growls... came through the headphones, clearly striking Chen Jin's eardrums.

Just as Xie Mingyang said, in terms of Togami Hayabusa's playing style, this match against Dako was not much different from before.

However, the fighting is particularly fierce.

He was extremely excited, like he had taken a shot of gunpowder.

Their footwork and transitions are extremely fast, and their engagement rate in combat is also very high.

"He is fast, fierce, has a fighting style, and strong mentality... Once he gets into a rhythm, he can be quite a threat."

"But this style of play has a low margin for error."

"Moreover, physical strength is an issue."

"As physical strength declines, the frequency of fighting will also decrease."

"Honokachi also likes to retreat to the mid-to-long range to counter-attack, so that he can swing his arms freely."

"Since he likes running all over Taiwan, let him run..."

Chen Jin silently made a plan in his mind.

……

Chen Jin and Togami Hayato's match schedule was to take over the table from Wang Chuqin and Lin Yunru.

Even though I arrived backstage early, I could still hear cheers coming from the stadium from time to time.

Chen Jin sat alone on a sofa in the waiting area, watching the fourth game of the match between Wang Chuqin and Lin Yunru via live television broadcast.

"Compared to before, Wang Chuqin's playing style has obviously changed a lot."

Chen Jin's gaze darkened slightly. "Without the back-up counter-pull, the connection speed between mid- and near-stations is faster, and the landing points of the lines are more tricky."

Compared to foreign players, especially those from Europe and America, Chinese table tennis players rarely have an opponent when it comes to a direct power struggle or long-range rallies.

The Chinese national table tennis team's forte is its fast attack from mid-to-close range.

Moreover, Wang Chuqin's playing style, due to his relatively weak lower limb strength and slightly poor footwork, often resulted in large blunders in his forehand.

When facing opponents in a long-range rally, you are often at a disadvantage.

Therefore, a fast attack from mid-to-close range, focusing on speed and placement of shots, may not be the optimal solution for Wang Chuqin.

Just thinking about it.

Another wave of cheers erupted, like a landslide.

Chen Jin snapped out of his daze, looked up, and saw Wang Chuqin clenching his fist in celebration.

12: 10.

11: 9.

11: 9.

13: 11.

The score is 4-0.

Wang Chuqin defeated Lin Yun-ju to advance to the men's singles semifinals.

Although each game was won by a margin of two points, the winner takes all.

Chen Jin could also tell that Wang Chuqin was in good form at the Doha World Table Tennis Championships, having learned from his experience at the World Cup and coming prepared.

At this moment.

Staff members came to remind Chen Jin and Togami Hayabusa to prepare to go on stage.

Chen Jin picked up his bag, stood up, stretched his limbs, and then walked towards the contestants' passage.

"Whoo~"

Togami Hayabusa also stood up, glanced at Chen Jin, and had a somewhat complicated expression.

When Chen Jin appeared on the field.

In an instant, a huge cheer and shout erupted from the scene.

"Chen Jin!"

"come on--"

Even Chen Jin himself didn't expect that he would have so many fans in just the quarterfinals.

Chen Jin waved to the stands, his expression calm, his steps steady and unhurried, as he walked towards the rest area on the sidelines.

By this time, Wang Hao had been waiting for a long time.

As Wang Chuqin's off-court coach, he had just finished a match, and his voice was still a little hoarse.

"In terms of strength and depth, Togami Hayabusa is far inferior to you."

Wang Hao took a sip of water to moisten his throat before continuing, "So, in this match, Togami will definitely fight very fiercely, battling desperately, using extremely high speed and risky routes to attack you, trying to disrupt your rhythm."

"This style of play has its advantages and disadvantages. We can't fall into his rhythm and let him lead us."

He paused for a moment after saying this.

Wang Hao took another small sip of mineral water and continued to deploy tactics in a hoarse voice, each word clear and powerful.

"When playing short balls, especially when serving and receiving, try to control his forehand short and limit his backhand attack."

"If he likes to fight, let him fight, but don't let him fight while standing still. Make him run and fight while moving, and threaten to cripple him."

"Even if he gets lucky and scores a few goals, it's okay, that's normal."

"With your strength, he can't break through you. Don't be affected, and don't doubt your own tactics."

Chen Jin listened attentively, his eyes focused.

the other side.

The Neon team's rest area.

The atmosphere was equally somber.

Hayato Togami, holding a towel, stretched his limbs, his eyes burning with determination and high spirits.

"Togami-kun".

Kishikawa Seiya stared intently at Togami Hayato, his tone calm yet resolute, "Having come this far, the hopes of the Japanese men's singles team rest entirely on your shoulders."

"Of course, this match, win or lose, is enough to prove yourself."

"Therefore, we feel no pressure when facing Chen Jin."

"You just need to unleash all your energy, all your skills, and all your courage on the field!"

"Don't think about the result, just focus on every point, every ball!"

"Use your speed to overwhelm him, use your fighting spirit to intimidate him!"

Every word, every sentence, is like the beating of drums before a decisive battle between two armies.

The drumbeats were like thunder, stirring the hearts of the people.

Togami Hayabusa felt his blood boiling, as if his whole body was filled with inexhaustible power.

"Yes!"

Togami Hayabusa's gaze was firm, and he exuded a surging aura, like a newly forged sword, its sharpness fully revealed and its fierce flames burning brightly.

The referee gave a signal, and the players entered the arena.

The two players approached the referee, picked up their rackets, and shook hands.

The moment of shaking hands.

Suddenly, Togami Hayabusa sensed a terrifying aura emanating from the fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy before him, as if an ancient dragon had suddenly awakened.

He was completely different from the kind and gentle boy I usually saw.

"Gulu!"

Swallowing hard, Togami Hayasuke felt a chill run down his spine.

Toss a coin and guess who goes first.

Chen Jin has the right to serve.

Then came the pre-match warm-up practice.

"Snapped!"

"Snapped!"

"Snapped!"

……

Each of Togami Hayato's shots was accompanied by a whooshing sound, full of power.

In contrast, Chen Jin remained calm and composed, pushing the ball and pulling it back with less than 50% of his strength.

Even so, Togami Hayabusa could still feel the power and loop of Chen Jin's forehand and backhand topspin, which vibrated the blade.

"This power, this rotation..."

Togami Hayato's gaze grew even more serious. "No wonder he's reached the top of the world rankings at such a young age, in less than a year." Soon after...

The practice session ended, and the match began.

first round.

0: 0.

Chen Jin served first.

Hook your hand.

Short forehand stroke with sidespin.

Although it was their first encounter, Togami Hayabusa had no intention of testing the waters.

With a push of the foot, it quickly started moving.

Step forward with your right leg and intercept the ball's landing point.

Lower your shoulders and raise your elbows.

Wrist tucked inward.

As the ball begins its descent, use your fingers and wrists to generate a powerful, short burst of force.

He drew a semi-circle with the racket in his hand.

"laugh!"

Twist and pull diagonally with a reverse grip.

The white ball, carrying a strong sidespin, headed towards Chen Jin's forehand corner.
From the very first goal, Togami Hayato's attacking desire was on full display.

However, Chen Jin had anticipated this.

With a swift movement, he countered with a forehand pull down the middle.

Togami Hayabusa moves extremely fast, switching to forehand and counter-attacking down the line.

Chen Jin remained calm and composed, defending with his backhand and quickly tearing a cross-court shot, aiming directly at Togami Hayabusa's left half of the table backhand position.

Togami Hayabusa took a half step back, crouched down, and with a backhand flick, forcefully pulled back.

This shot, like a tiger descending a mountain, was full of power and spin.

Chen Jin stood firmly in the middle of the platform, without retreating an inch.

Shift your weight forward, press your thumb into the board shape, use the momentum to your advantage, and quickly tear a straight line.

"Snapped!"

The ball moved like lightning, with the force of thunder.

Other players wouldn't have had time to react to Chen Jin's backhand straight-line attack.

But Togami Hayasuke let out a loud shout, stomped his foot hard, and leaped into the air like a madman to pounce on the front hand.

Unexpectedly, he actually made a last-minute save.

"nice shot!"

Even Chen Jin couldn't help but cheer for him in his heart.

Unfortunately, it was all for naught.

Chen Jin stepped out as if strolling in a garden, but he had already seized the landing point of the incoming ball.

With racket in hand, I swing to meet the ball.

Like an incredibly sharp blade, with indescribable anticipation and technique, it swiftly severed Togami Hayato's return trajectory.

"Snapped!"

Forehand fast drive down the line.

The movements were fluid, like flowing clouds and running water, unrestrained and freehand.

Togami Hayato lunges at the forehand, but his power is exhausted. Even with his speed, he can no longer return the ball to his backhand.

When he turned around and looked back.

A white blur flashed by, and the ping-pong ball struck the left side of the table, shooting out like an arrow in the blink of an eye.

He could only watch helplessly, powerless to change anything.

1: 0.

Chen Jin secured a winning start.

"Wow!"

The fans in the stadium applauded and cheered.

In the stands.

Zhang Jiahao and Xie Mingyang, sitting in the back corner, watched as Chen Jin easily won the first point of the first game.

"Brother Jin, you're awesome!"

Zhang Jiahao was excited and shouted, "See? Xiao Ri is sweating profusely from running around, but my brother Jin's hairstyle isn't even messed up!"

"Ah."

Xie Mingyang responded only indifferently.

Although it was only the first point of the first game, the tactics and techniques of Chen Jin and Togami Hayato were already evident.

Togami Hayasuke took the initiative, intending to fight.

Whether it's the transition between forehand and backhand or the diving save, it demonstrates her skill.

Chen Jin did not adopt his usual tactic of "stopping killing with killing," but instead stood firmly on the mid-to-close range, combining defense with offense, and displaying a steady yet fierce approach.

By simply changing the landing point, he had completely neutralized Togami Hayabusa's offensive.

This goal set the tone.

Next game.

Togami Hayato made no attempt to probe or play it safe, putting himself on the brink of elimination from the very first point.

Fighting at all costs, giving it their all with every shot.

It felt as if this wasn't a best-of-seven match, but a duel where the winner would be decided in a single point.

This kind of play is all-or-nothing and extremely exhausting.

However, once they get into a rhythm and their momentum is unstoppable, they can indeed put tremendous psychological pressure on their opponents.

Chen Jin was prepared for this and his mindset remained unaffected.

Just as Wang Hao said before the match, with Togami Hayabusa's strength, he simply couldn't break through Chen Jin's defenses.

They couldn't even force Chen Jin to step down from the stage.

Chen Jin's defense was impenetrable, with varied and precise shots.

Although Togami Hayato's aggressive play occasionally paid off, resulting in a few decent shots.

However, it's just a drop in the ocean.

Chen Jin quickly retaliated, suppressing Togami Hayabusa's frenzied attack.

Togami Hayasuke was drenched in sweat, panting heavily, his vest completely soaked.

Undoubtedly, under Chen Jin's continuous changes in landing points, Togami Hayabusa's physical strength was greatly depleted.

Seeing Togami Hayasuke panting heavily, Zhang Jiahao immediately perked up: "Run! Keep running! Aren't you supposed to be a fast runner?"

"At this rate, if this continues, it won't be more than two games before Togami's stamina runs out."

"A fighting style will crumble without a fight."

"Playing hand-to-hand combat in front of Brother Jin? Isn't that just asking for death?"

While talking.

The score came to 8:5.

Chen Jin led the way.

Holding the ping-pong ball, Chen Jin blew on it, preparing to serve again.

Sudden.

The referee raises a white card: "Time out!"

Chen Jin was taken aback upon hearing this.

Kishikawa Seiya stood up, gestured to the referee, and requested a timeout.

Calling a timeout in the very first game?

Chen Jin was stunned.

Not only him, but the entire audience was stunned.

All eyes, without prior arrangement, were focused on Kishikawa Seiya.

Seiya Kishikawa, however, remained calm.

As for Togami Hayasuke, he remained calm and showed no surprise whatsoever.

It seems that this unconventional pause was within his expectations.

He immediately put down his racket, picked up a towel, wiped his sweat, and walked to the sidelines.

Seeing this, Chen Jin frowned slightly.

He didn't say anything, put down his racket, handed the ping-pong ball to the referee, and walked over to Wang Hao.

"The first game was called a timeout... What are Togami Hayato and Kishikawa Seiya up to?"

Chen Jin pondered to himself.

For a time, I was completely baffled.

(End of this chapter)