According to the WTT Singapore Grand Slam Organizing Committee, in addition to the participation of the world's highest-ranked players, there will be additional wild card players.
The host has 15 players, 2 from France and 3 from China. China's three players are Xiang Peng, the world youth championship men's singles champion, and the world youth championship women's singles champion Ku man. They were awarded a qualifying wild card. Ito Mimachi imitator He Zhuojia won a wild card for the main match.
Interestingly, the WTT World Table Tennis Federation also nominated The Chinese teenager Lin Shidong. Lin Shidong, who is not yet 17 years old, was not only invited to participate, but also directly advanced to the main competition. Lin Shidong was really taken special care of.
Originally, 12 players participated in the WTT Singapore Grand Slam, namely Fan Zhendong, Ma Long, Xu Xin, Liang Jingkun, Lin Gaoyuan, Wang Chuqin, Chen Meng, Sun Yingsha, Wang Manyu, Wang Yidi, Liu Shiwen and Chen Xingtong. Together with Xiang Peng, Ku Man, He Zhuojia and Lin Shidong, there are 16 team members. The number of people in the associations should be the second, only less than the host Singapore team. After all, the Singapore team has added 15 wild card players.
I have to say that the young general Lin Shidong has received more and more attention.
Not only was he placed to participate in the WTT Oman Challenge, but he was also selected as a seeded player. This time it was nominated by the WTT World Table Tennis Federation to participate in grand slam competitions, which is very difficult and special care. Players who can generally participate in WTT Grand Slams are of a very high level. The 12 players selected at the beginning of the national table tennis team qualified entirely by the world rankings. The next four are only relying on wild cards, which can be said to be the future stars that everyone is optimistic about. Xiang Peng and Kuo Man were invited to rely on their status as Singles Champions at the World Youth Championships. He Zhuojia himself has a high strength and has also been invited.
Lin Shidong has not yet made a result, and his fame is not loud enough, so it is an accident that he can be invited. However, Lin Shidong's potential is huge, and he will definitely play a world in the future. Liu Guoliang attaches great importance to him and intends to give him more opportunities for international competitions and exercise him as soon as possible. Just like day table tennis, giving young players the opportunity to participate in international competitions in advance and practicing instead of competitions can quickly improve their technical level. This is the case with players like Ito, Tomokazu Chang, Miyu Hirano, and Hina Hayata. Since Japanese table tennis can do this, why can't national table tennis do this?
Not only that, Lin Shidong directly advanced to the main competition, which was better than the chances of Xiang Peng, Ku Man and He Zhuojia. Liu Guoliang is really a heavy Lin Shidong!
Lin Shidong posted thanking the World Table Tennis Federation, especially Liu Guoliang. To get such an opportunity to participate, Lin Shidong felt very surprised, very excited and looking forward to it.
Lim Said: "I am truly grateful to the WTT World Table Tennis Federation, the Chinese Table Tennis Association and Chairman Liu for giving me the opportunity to participate in the WTT Singapore Grand Slam tournament. I will definitely cherish such a stage, play the morale and vitality of young athletes in the competition, strive to play at my highest level in this competition, dare to confront the opponent in the competition, and strive to spread certain highlights in this competition. ”
Lin Shidong must have known that he was able to participate in the WTT Singapore Grand Slam, with the support of the Chinese Table Tennis Association and the introduction of Liu Guoliang. Everyone also hopes to have more young people with high levels to add vitality to the competition and promote the development of table tennis.
Lin Shidong's time for the national team was short. He was the first table tennis player in Hainan Province to enter the national team. Although he is very young, he has a high level, dares to fight, and has played wonderful games many times. In the men's singles group stage of the "Straight Through WTT Grand Slam" World Table Tennis Championships and Olympic Simulation Tournament held in May 2021, Lin Shidong defeated Xu Xin 3-2. In the men's singles quarterfinals of the WTT Macau Championship in January, although Lin Shidong lost 2-3 to Lin Gaoyuan and missed the final four, it caused Lin Gaoyuan a lot of trouble. Lin Shidong regards Fan Zhendong as an idol. Since both are relatively fat, fans like to call Lin Shidong "little fat".
Lin Shidong and Fan Zhendong also played a game, although they lost, but the process is not ugly, not to fall behind, even Fan Zhendong is also very impressed.
Netizens are also very optimistic about Lin Shidong. When they knew that Lin Shidong was going to participate in the WTT Grand Slam, they sent their blessings. "Little rock, you can, come on! Expect you to show your level and leave no regrets. ”
"Little rock, come on."
"Race out of level and height, stone, come on!"
I don't know if you see it, netizens no longer call Lin Shidong "little fat", but call it "small stone".
Why call him Little Stone? This should be related to his name. The last two words of Lin Shidong's name, "Shidong", are similar to the sounds of English stone. Then stone means "stone", and everyone calls Lin Shidong "small stone".
Here, Xiang Chu also cheered on Xiao Shi, hoping that he would achieve good results in both events.