On October 15, 2023, the women's team final of the Table Tennis National Championship was played between Jiangsu and Shandong. Although Jiangsu's Olympic champion Chen Meng did not play, Qian Tianyi, Qu Man and Shi Xunyao in the team successfully defeated their respective opponents. Instead, the Shandong team chose to abandon sending Chen Meng and Fan Siqi in the final, and instead continued to develop young players. The result of the game lost its suspense early and made people feel bored. Although the gold content of this championship has decreased, as the host, the Jiangsu team has achieved the expected goal, which deserves our congratulations.
Table tennis, as a favorite sport of Chinese people, has almost become a national sport. Its skill and ornamental nature make it the center of attention. However, in this women's team final, the match became boring as one side gave up the title race early. This situation makes one wonder, is competitive sports really only about winning?
The chipping technique in table tennis is known as the "king of table tennis" because it requires great skill and precise control. However, in this women's team final, we did not see the appearance of top chippers such as Chen Meng and Fan Siqi. Instead, the Shandong team chose to give up competing for the championship and continue to develop young players. Is this the right decision?
For the Shandong team, their approach may be motivated by future considerations. The development of young players requires time and experience, and giving up the opportunity to win the championship early can give them more opportunities to exercise. However, for viewers, this decision can be disappointing. After all, spectators would rather see a fierce showdown between top players than a match that loses its suspense early.
In competitive sports, winning is certainly one of the most important goals. However, we cannot ignore other values in sportsmanship. The process of participating in sports is a pleasure in itself, not just the pursuit of victory. Whether it is the Jiangsu team or the Shandong team, they have put in their efforts and sweat to present a wonderful game for the audience. Even if the result of the game has long been out of suspense, we should still give them the respect and encouragement they deserve.
Just as every ball in a table tennis game requires precise control and skill, every choice in life needs to be carefully considered. Shandong gave up the chance to win the championship in this game, perhaps for longer-term considerations, which is a respectable choice. As the host, the Jiangsu team has achieved the expected goal, which also deserves our congratulations.
Overall, this table tennis all-championship women's team final gave us some thoughts. Victory is important, but in competitive sports, we should also pay attention to the inheritance of sportsmanship and the opportunity to develop young players. Whether it is the confrontation of top players or the growth of young players, it is an indispensable part of table tennis. Let's look forward to more exciting matches in table tennis in the future!