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

Chapter 461 Chen Jin sweeps aside Togami Hayabusa and advances to the men's singles semifinals!
"Holy crap, what the hell is Xiaozhi up to?"

Zhang Jiahao's eyes widened, a look of astonishment on his face. "Calling a timeout in the first round? Did you drink too much nuclear wastewater and lose your mind?"

It's not just him.

Xie Mingyang and Li Qian, who were sitting next to him, also had their brows furrowed.

Both of them were somewhat confused.

"can't read."

Li Qian shook his head.

As is well known, each player only has one timeout opportunity in the same match.

Therefore, the opportunity to pause is especially precious.

It will not be used lightly unless it is a crucial game.

For Togami Hayabusa's aggressive fighting style, physical fitness is key.

For him, a timeout is indeed a precious opportunity to recover his stamina and disrupt his opponent's rhythm.

Logically speaking, one should be even more cautious.

However, no matter how hard Togami fights, his stamina shouldn't be depleted in the first game.

This pause seems premature.

It was unusually early.

"If you call a timeout in the first game, what will you do in the following games?"

Li Qian frowned. "Even Kishikawa Sei wouldn't make such a basic mistake, would he?"

Moreover, judging from the expressions and reactions of Kishikawa Seiya and Togami Hayabusa, it seemed that this was premeditated and not a spur-of-the-moment decision.

VIP viewing area.

Wang Liqin, Liu Guoliang, Qin Zhijian, and others sat side by side, watching the match.

Everyone who witnessed this scene was stunned and looked at each other in disbelief.

"Calling a timeout in the very first game?"

Qin Zhijian was completely bewildered, his face full of doubt. "What does Kishikawa Seiya want to do?"

Having been a coach for so many years, I've seen all sorts of situations.

However, this was the first time he had encountered a situation where the game was paused in the first round.

There must be a reason.

Wang Liqin frowned slightly, looking at Kishikawa Seiya from afar. "Kishikawa Seiya is not a rash person. Such an unusual decision must have his own calculations behind it, but we haven't figured it out yet."

Liu Guoliang crossed his arms, tilted his head, and remained silent.

However, he agreed with Wang Liqin's view.

The audience members were discussing the matter, feeling bewildered by the sudden pause.

Courtside.

Togami Hayasuke wiped his sweat with a towel, his breathing slightly rapid, but far from its limit.

Kishikawa Seiya spoke very quickly, analyzing and deploying tactics and strategies, while Togami Hayasuke listened, nodding continuously.

the other side.

Chen Jin returned to the rest area, took the water bottle handed to him by Wang Hao, took a sip, and said in a low voice, "This pause is called a bit strange."

"Ignore why they paused, stick to our tactics."

Wang Hao glanced to the side and said, "The art of war says, 'If you have ten times the strength, surround them; if you have five, attack them.' Only those who lack real strength would think of so many schemes and tricks."

"In short, as long as we can provide firepower coverage, we are not afraid that they will learn the three-three system."

The timeout ends and the game continues.

After returning to the court, Togami Hayato fought even more fiercely, with almost every move he made carrying a do-or-die spirit.

However, Chen Jin remained unmoved and withstood Togami Hayabusa's counterattack.

Landing point control and route adjustments, like the hand of God, manipulated Togami Hayabusa's entire run across the island, leaving him exhausted.

11: 6.

Chen Jin scored the first goal.

Break between games.

Kishikawa Seiya reached out and patted Togami Hayato on the shoulder: "Although you lost the first game, it's quite good that you managed to get six points from him."

“Think about Chen Jin’s previous matches, there are very few players who can get six points from him in a single game.”

"This shows that our tactics are effective, and your aggressive play has caused him trouble, so we must maintain this momentum."

Hayato Togami was panting heavily, gulping down an energy drink; his hair was already soaked with sweat.

The intense fighting took a real toll on his stamina; even in just one round, it was clear that he had expended a great deal of energy.

Second round.

Togami Hayasuke remains true to his fighting spirit.

However, after the first game, Chen Jin had adapted to Togami Hayabusa's attacks and played with increasing composure.

Chen Jin defended the mid-to-close range, relying on his superior footwork and speed to focus on defensive placements and continue to move Togami Hayato around.

Despite running back and forth and hitting the ball at the limit multiple times, Togami Hayabusa was unable to break through Chen Jin's defense.

There was no close fighting at the table, and no aggressive attacks in the first three shots; every ball involved a long rally of seven or eight rounds.

This would undoubtedly be a huge drain on the physical strength of the side that takes the initiative in the fight.

Togami Hayabusa's attacks were like a sharp spear, constantly piercing Chen Jin.

Chen Jin's defense, like a vibranium shield, easily neutralized Togami Hayabusa's offensive.

Hayato Togami ran back and forth on the field, saving the ball, exerting force, and saving it again... His expression grew increasingly serious, and his breathing became clearer and clearer.

However, what is truly disheartening is...

The score, however, continued to tip in Chen Jin's favor.

5: 1.

6: 1.

1: 7.

2: 7.

……

After failing to break through for a long time, Togami Hayabusa's mentality began to show subtle fluctuations.

The physical exertion is also enormous.

The pace seemed a little slower than in the first game.

8: 2.

It was Chen Jin's turn to play.

Toss the ball and prepare to swing.

"laugh!"

The moment the white ball left his hand, Chen Jin was already prepared to follow up with the next shot.

Unexpectedly, the ping-pong ball had just crossed the net and had not yet landed on the opponent's side of the table.

Sudden.

Hayato Togami raised his left hand to signal the referee, and Chen Jinjin blocked the ball.

"???"

Chen Jin was stunned and looked at Togami Hayabusa with some surprise.

It should be noted that his serve has been honed through countless trials and tribulations, tested on the international stage, and has never been questioned as a violation.

This is the first time ever.

"Crooked sun!"

In the stands, Zhang Jiahao instantly exploded, "Is Hu Shang blind? My brother Jin served cleanly and perfectly, where is there any obstruction?"

"You catch someone using a hook shot and say their serve is faulty? Do you think I, Brother Jin, am some kind of nobody?!"

The more he cursed, the angrier he became. He wished he could take off his shoes and throw them at Togami Hayasuke.

"Chen Jin's serve is absolutely no problem."

Li Qian firmly stated, "I suspect Hu Shang is after Chen Jin."

At this moment, on the field.

Hayato Togami is communicating with the referee, gesturing with his hands, and is adamant that he believes Chen Jin obstructed the ball when he threw it.

According to the rules, contestants have the right to raise questions.

The referee raised his hand to indicate that if Chen Jin disagreed with Togami Hayabusa's questioning, he could apply to challenge Hawk-Eye for a ruling.

"TTR!"

Without any hesitation, Chen Jin made a challenge gesture to the referee using Hawk-Eye.

This Doha World Table Tennis Championships marked the first time Hawk-Eye technology was introduced.

Each player has two opportunities to challenge Hawk-Eye in each game.

Due to Wang's misdeeds, obstructing serves has become the biggest taboo in the world of table tennis.

Chen Jin is confident in his serve and must prove himself in the face of Togami Hayato's doubts.

The referee put on an earpiece and contacted the Hawk-Eye technical officer backstage.

Shortly after.

On the large screen suspended in mid-air, a super slow-motion close-up of Chen Jin's serve began to play.

It shows the ball's height and angle from multiple angles, as well as the body's position at the moment of impact.

The entire audience held their breath, their eyes fixed on the screen.

The slow-motion video is clearly displayed.

Chen Jin tossed the ball with his palm flat, almost vertically upwards, at a height that met the rules, with no obvious signs of a return throw.

At the moment of impact, the triangular area formed by the point of impact and the net post is completely unobstructed.

Ultimately, the Hawkeye system delivered its verdict.

"Challenge Successful!"

Chen Jinbo did not cover up.

As soon as the result was announced, a wave of relieved cheers and applause erupted from the audience.

There were also some boos directed at Togami Hayasuke.

However, Togami Hayasuke seemed to have anticipated this outcome, and remained calm.

"You're living a simple life, aren't you?"

Zhang Jiahao smugly snorted, "Brother Jin plays clean football, relies on hard skills, and never resorts to underhanded tactics."

"Saying that my brother Jin is covering his serve is just a sign that Xiao Rizi has lost his composure and his eyes are also having problems."

Li Qian crossed his arms, his eyes deep, and shook his head, saying, "I'm afraid it's not that simple."

“From the moment the question was raised to the Hawkeye replay and then to the final ruling, almost a minute had passed.”

Hear the words.

Zhang Jiahao was taken aback: "What do you mean?"

"One minute."

Xie Mingyang suddenly spoke up, "It's equivalent to a pause." "It's not just a one-minute pause."

Li Qian said, "It can also disrupt the continuity of the game, interrupt Chen Jin's scoring rhythm and hot hand, and may even affect Chen Jin's emotions."

"Kill two birds with one stone."

Upon hearing this explanation, Zhang Jiahao immediately understood and became even more indignant: "Is Xiao Rizi playing dirty tricks?!"

"really."

Li Qian shook his head. "But this is taking advantage of the rules to indirectly buy yourself a chance to breathe, so it can't be considered a dirty trick."

"No wonder Kishikawa Seiya dared to call that inexplicable timeout in the first game; so that's what he was planning."

While talking.

The game continues.

Chen Jin serves again.

Hawkeye proved his innocence, but this little incident had some impact, more or less.

Chen Jin's next two serves, perhaps due to a slight change in rhythm, or perhaps because Togami Hayabusa was more focused after the rest, were both scored by Togami Hayabusa's counterattacks.

4: 8.

Hayato Togami scored two consecutive points.

"Depend on!"

Zhang Jiahao stomped his feet in anger, "That's so damn despicable! He opened the door for such a despicable person! He's utterly despicable!"

"Trust Chen Jin, there shouldn't be any major problems."

Li Qian said.

"Dirty tricks may feel good in the moment, but if they anger Chen Jin, it won't be a good thing."

Xie Mingyang also said.

As expected, knowing his opponent's intentions, Chen Jin quickly adjusted his mindset and did not let those two points affect him.

In the following few balls, they immediately changed tactics, took the initiative, and seized the initiative.

"Snapped!"

"Snapped!"

"Snapped!"

Chen Jin scored three points in a row.

11: 4.

Another victory.

The score is 2-0.

Back on the sidelines, Wang Hao stood up and handed out water: "I finally understand why Kishikawa Seiya used a timeout in the first game."

"It turns out that he had already planned to use the two opportunities to challenge Hawkeye as two timeouts to recover his strength."

The Eagle Eye Challenge that Chen Jin just used was to prove his innocence.

Therefore, Togami Hayabusa still has two more opportunities to challenge Hawkeye.

It is foreseeable that this technique will be used in the upcoming matches when the opportunity arises.

The key point is that, within reasonable rules, such actions cannot be protested or stopped.

"I predict that Togami Hayato will use the same trick again in the later matches."

Wang Hao said to Chen Jin, "But it's okay, don't let it affect your mentality, just play the way you should."

"In the first two games, we used our speed advantage from mid-to-close range to defend and attack, and moved the ball around, which took a lot of Togami's energy."

"If Togami still wants to fight, his physical strength is declining, and it's a foregone conclusion."

"Next, let's switch from defense to offense and show them what real combat is like!"

This statement came out.

Chen Jin's eyes seemed to blaze with fury as he nodded emphatically: "Understood!"

He stretched his shoulders, as if the seal had been broken, and a surge of killing intent rose within him.

The third game begins.

Trailing 0-2 in the match, Togami Hayato has no way out and can only intensify his fighting spirit.

However, after two games, Chen Jin had completely figured out his opponent's tactics and rhythm.

No longer conservative, but proactive and aggressive, we will strengthen our offensive in the first three boards.

The effect is immediate.

Chen Jin's attacks, whether in terms of power, speed, or trajectory, far surpass those of Togami Hayabusa.

The score was quickly widened.

1: 0.

0: 2.

0: 3.

4: 0.

5: 0.

1: 5.

1: 6.

7: 1.

Chen Jin holds a huge advantage.

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

Chen Jingang serves the ball.

Just then, Togami Hayato raised his hand again, indicating that Chen Jin had committed a foul.

"what--"

The audience erupted in uproar.

A chorus of boos erupted.

"Damn it, you're a madman, blinded by ghosts, you're probably some kind of ghostly spirit!"

Zhang Jiahao could no longer hold back and burst out cursing, "The exact same trick, you actually used it twice? How disgusting!"

Undoubtedly, Togami Hayasuke resorted to the same old trick to disrupt the rhythm, gain a breather, and recover some stamina.

However, this time it was he who took the initiative to challenge Hawkeye.

After all, Chen Jin had already succeeded in the challenge once.

If he succeeds in the challenge again, Togami Hayasuke will be penalized points.

On the big screen, the slow-motion playback started again.

The result was as expected; Chen Jin's serve was clean and flawless.

Hawkeye verdict: "Challenge Failed!"

The boos from the crowd grew even louder.

However, Togami Hayabusa's expression was unusually calm, as if he had expected this outcome.

For him, whether the challenge succeeds or fails is completely unimportant.

The important thing is this precious pause time of tens of seconds to a minute.

Chen Jin calmed down, unfazed by the situation: "I'll take a break too."

The match has resumed.

Chen Jin switched to a forehand serve.

Although Togami Hayato had recovered some of his strength, his rhythm was disrupted, his judgment was off, and he lost a serve.

"nice shot!"

"Pretty!"

The entire stadium erupted in cheers.

Even after a tactical rest, Togami Hayabusa's stamina was still severely depleted.

The success rate of combat has dropped sharply.

Chen Jin seized the opportunity to press his advantage, and in one fell swoop, he gave his opponent no chance.

11: 1.

They won the third game by a large margin.

The score is 3-0.

Seeing Chen Jin's rapid advance and complete disregard for his tactics, Kishikawa Seiya's expression grew more serious.

"The gap in strength is too large; it's clear that tactics alone cannot bridge it."

Kishikawa Seiya sighed inwardly.

But the game isn't over yet.

"Well played."

Wang Hao smiled and said, "They've exhausted all their tricks; in the next round, they can only fight like cornered beasts."

"Stay calm. Remember, in the face of absolute strength, any tricks are futile!"

The fourth game.

Hayato Togami, who was completely on the edge of the cliff, had nowhere left to retreat.

They unleashed all their energy, even pushing themselves beyond their limits, in a final, frantic battle.

They gave it their all for every ball, their roars echoing throughout the stadium.

Faced with Togami Hayabusa's desperate struggle, Chen Jin chose the toughest and most effective response.

Stop killing with killing, suppress violence with violence!
A stalemate over retreating from Taiwan, a pullback between the medium and long term...

The two sides did put up several extremely exciting long rallies, drawing gasps and thunderous applause from the audience.

However, the difference in strength was fully revealed at this moment.

Chen Jin's footwork became lighter and faster, his forehand and backhand transitions were smooth and effortless, and his precise control of the landing points made it difficult for the severely fatigued Togami Hayabusa to cope.

7: 3.

Chen Jin held a ping-pong ball in his hand, his fingertips twirling it: "Judging from Tosho's appearance, he should be about to use his last chance to challenge Hawk-Eye."

Unsurprisingly.

As soon as he served the ball, Togami Hayabusa raised his hand to signal a challenge for Hawk-Eye.

As expected, there were no surprises.

Challenge failed!
The game continues.

Togami Hayasuke's struggles were in vain.

Under Chen Jin's relentless attacks, he was powerless to defend himself, let alone retaliate.

11: 3.

The score is 4-0.

Chen Jin swept aside Togami Hayabusa to advance strongly to the men's singles semifinals.

(End of this chapter)