Malone: I think I can still play and fight for the Paris Olympics

In late December 2021, Ma Long once again became the most watched Chinese sports star. First, Ma Long became the only athlete selected by the Sports Department of Xinhua News Agency as one of the "Top Ten Domestic and International Athletes", affirming Ma Long's performance and value in 2021 at the national level; second, after the Chinese Olympic delegation's visit to Hong Kong, Ma Long returned to Beijing and accepted an exclusive interview with a famous media. Through this interview, Ma Long also showed his inner thoughts and thoughts to the world, and also aroused the attention and heated discussion of all parties.

Of these, what is particularly interesting is that when asked if he would participate in the Paris Olympics, Malone replied that he "strive to participate." In explaining and explaining "striving to participate", Malone said that he mainly felt that he was still in good physical condition and technical state (can withstand the requirements of high-intensity Olympic events), so he is now working towards this aspect.

But Malone finally stressed: I am trying to play hard now, but the final result is not the most important. That is to say, I am still making this preparation and going all out, but in the end whether I can go to Paris is not something I can control, and whether I can do it in the end is not the most important.

Compared with the Rio-Tokyo cycle, the mentality of Malone, who is already 33 years old, and Malone, who has won a double slam, is already different. In the Rio-Tokyo cycle, Malone's requirements for himself are: Be sure to participate! It's very harsh to ask yourself! Now Ma Long has become relieved, and the pursuit should be natural, or let nature go.

So far, there are 5 people in the men's table tennis Grand Slam. In addition to the long career of Evergreen Sweden Lao Wa, Liu Guoliang retired at the age of 26, Kong Linghui retired at the age of 31, and Zhang Jike, who is the same age as Ma Long, did not announce his retirement, but in essence he was the same as retirement. It seems that the 33-year-old Malone has no idea of retiring at all, one is because Malone himself feels that he can really play, he is still enthusiastic about the game, and the technology and tactics are also at the world's first-class level, and second, due to the progress of medical technology, logistics, training methods and other aspects, the life of athletes has also been extended. These factors made Malone decide to continue fighting.

But whether Ma Long can land in the Paris Olympic Arena, or even participate in singles, the most important thing is to see the strategic guidelines and plans of the Chinese Table Tennis Association in Paris. Judging from the absence of Ma Long, Xu Xin and Liu Shiwen from the Houston World Table Tennis Championships, the policy of fully launching young players to prepare for the Paris Olympics has basically been determined, but the men's team has not formed a "double core", or "double insurance" from the current personnel strength. Malone's status and role remain irreplaceable.

So, do you support Marlon's landing at the Paris Olympics?