The resumption of the table tennis Asian Cup is imminent, can the national table tennis reverse the decline and regain glory?
Table tennis is China's national sport and Asia's strong point. In the international table tennis arena, the Chinese team has always been the undisputed hegemon, whether it is the Olympic Games, the World Championships, the World Cup, or the Asian Cup, Asian Championships, Asian Games, the Chinese team has won countless gold medals and trophies, leaving other countries and regions in the dust. However, in recent years, due to the impact of the epidemic, international table tennis events have encountered unprecedented difficulties, and many competitions have been forced to be cancelled or postponed, and the Asian Cup is one of them. The event, which was once closely associated with the World Cup, was suspended in 2020 and 2021, and although it was restarted in 2022, it was suspended again in 2023, disappointing fans.
However, the good news is finally here. According to the official website of the Qatar Table Tennis Association, the Table Tennis Asian Cup will be held again in December 2024, and the venue will be in China. This is undoubtedly a huge boon for Chinese fans, because they will have the opportunity to see the wonderful performance of their beloved national table tennis players at their doorstep, and will also have the opportunity to witness whether the national table tennis can reverse the decline and regain glory. So, what kind of event is the Asian Cup? What kind of history and achievements does the national table tennis have in the Asian Cup? What kind of challenges and opportunities will the national table tennis face? Let's take a look.
## The origin and significance of the Asian Cup
The Asian Cup is an important event in the Asian table tennis world, and together with the Asian Championships and the Asian Games, it forms the three major competitions on this continent. The history of the Asian Cup can be traced back to 1983, when the first Asian Cup was held in Tokyo, Japan, when there were only two events, men's singles and women's singles, and only 16 players participated. From 1983 to 2019, the Asian Cup has been held for a total of 31 editions, of which two were team competitions, and the rest were singles competitions. The results of the Asian Cup used to be closely linked to the World Cup quotas, with the champion qualifying directly for the World Cup, and the runners-up and runners-up also having a good chance of being invited to the World Cup. Therefore, the level and competition of the Asian Cup are very high, and it can be compared with the three major competitions in the world table tennis (World Cup, World Championships, and Olympic Games).
However, due to the impact of the epidemic, the singles World Cup has not been held in the past three years, so the importance of the Asian Cup has also been greatly reduced, except for 2022, it has been suspended three times recently, and everyone has not had the opportunity to see the national table tennis players win the championship again. However, the Asian Cup is still a stage to show the level and style of Asian table tennis, a touchstone to test the strength and state of national table tennis, and an opportunity to prepare and adjust for other international competitions. Therefore, the resumption of the Asian Cup is a challenge and opportunity that cannot be missed for national table tennis.
## The glory and twists and turns of national table tennis in the Asian Cup
In the history of the 31st Asian Cup, the national table tennis has won a total of 23 men's singles championships, 25 women's singles championships, and 2 team championships, a total of 50 championships, accounting for half of the Asian Cup. The national table tennis players have also set many Asian Cup records, such as Wang Hao and Ma Lin won 5 and 4 men's singles championships respectively, the most men's singles champions, Zhang Yining and Ding Ning won 4 and 3 women's singles championships respectively, and the national table tennis has also achieved the Asian Cup men's singles, women's singles and team grand slam in 2003 and 2017, and is the only country to do so.
Of course, the national table tennis has not been smooth sailing in the Asian Cup, and has also encountered some twists and turns. For example, in 1985, the men's singles and women's singles of the national table tennis lost to South Korea, which was the first defeat of the national table tennis in the Asian Cup, in 1992, the men's singles and women's singles of the national table tennis lost to Japan, which was the second defeat of the national table tennis in the Asian Cup, and in 2019, the men's singles and women's singles of the national table tennis lost to Chinese Taipei, which was the third defeat of the national table tennis in the Asian Cup. The most painful one is that in 2022, the national table tennis suffered a big rout in the Asian Cup, the men's singles were wiped out, Lin Gaoyuan lost to Iran's Alamiyan, Wang Chuqin lost to South Korean athlete Lin Zhongxun, and finally Japan's Tomokazu Zhang won the championship, and the women's singles also lost half, Chen Xingtong lost to India's Batra, fortunately, Wang Yidi had the last laugh. This is the fourth defeat of national table tennis in the Asian Cup, and it is also the worst.
What opportunities and challenges will the national table tennis face?
Now, the Asian Cup is about to resume again in 2024, and the national table tennis will have the opportunity to prove its strength and level to Asia and the world on its home field, and will also have the opportunity to prepare and adjust for other international competitions. However, the national table tennis will also face strong challenges from other Asian countries and regions, especially Japan, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, India, etc., they all have excellent players and coaches, but also have a strong fighting spirit and confidence, but also have the ability to continue to improve and innovate, they are eager to break the monopoly of national table tennis in the Asian Cup, and seize their own honors and trophies.
The Japanese team is the biggest opponent of the national table tennis team, they have the world No. 1 Tomokazu Zhangmoto, who is the men's singles champion of the 2022 Asian Cup and the men's singles runner-up of the 2020 Olympic Games. The Japanese team also has powerful players such as Misei Ito, Miu Hirano, and Hayabusa Mizutani, all of whom have rich experience in international competitions, and also have the courage and confidence to play against national table tennis players, and they are all strong opponents of national table tennis.
The South Korean team is the old rival of the national table tennis, they have beaten the national table tennis in the Asian Cup in 1985 and 1992, and they have also caused trouble for the national table tennis in the Olympic Games in 2004 and 2012. The South Korean team has excellent players such as Lim Jong-hoon, Shin Bae-ru, Ahn Jung-hyung, etc., they all have unique skills and styles, and they also have the courage and wisdom to compete with national table tennis players, and they are all challengers of national table tennis.
The Chinese Taipei team is the new opponent of the national table tennis, they caused a huge impact on the national table tennis in the Asian Cup in 2019 and 2022, and they also brought surprises to the national table tennis in the World Cup in 2020. The Chinese Taipei team has outstanding players such as Lin Yunru, Zheng Yijing, and Chen Siyu, all of whom have comprehensive abilities and characteristics, as well as skills and strategies to compete with national table tennis players, and they are all competitors in national table tennis.
The Indian team is a potential opponent of national table tennis, they brought unexpected trouble to national table tennis in the Asian Cup in 2022, they have also shown good performance in international competitions in recent years, they have hard training and Xi, but also have an open vision and communication, they are interesting opponents of national table tennis. The Indian team has powerful players such as Batra, Sharma, and Ganika, all of whom have different advantages and characteristics, and also have opportunities and channels to communicate with national table tennis players, and they are all partners of national table tennis.
In short, the national table tennis will face many challenges from other Asian countries and regions in the Asian Cup, which is not only a pressure but also a driving force for the national table tennis, a crisis and an opportunity. If national table tennis wants to regain glory in the Asian Cup, it must maintain its own advantages, it must also improve its own shortcomings, it must respect its opponents, it must also defeat its opponents, it must adhere to its own style, and it must also innovate its own methods. If the national table tennis wants to show its level in the Asian Cup, it must be fully prepared, and it must adjust its best state, it must grasp every opportunity, and it must deal with every difficulty, and it must give full play to its strength and show its style. If national table tennis wants to win the support of fans in the Asian Cup, it must maintain its confidence, must win its respect, must thank its fans, must also return to its motherland, must enjoy its own game, and must embrace its dreams.
The Asian Cup is a challenge for national table tennis and an opportunity for national table tennis. The Asian Cup is a stage for national table tennis and a goal of national table tennis. The Asian Cup is an honor of national table tennis and a responsibility of national table tennis. Let's look forward to the 2024 Asian Cup, the national table tennis can show the best level, win the best results, and create the best history for ourselves, for China, for Asia, and for the world!
G The road to winning the championship: The name Wang Chuqin leads, and he is powerless to return to the sky
On December 10, 2023, the Chengdu ITTF Mixed Team World Cup ushered in the final round of the championship battle, and the Chinese team and the South Korean team launched a fierce showdown. In the end, the Chinese team defeated the South Korean team with an aggregate score of 8-5 and successfully defended the championship, making the best preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Game recap
The format of the Mixed Team World Cup is very special, each match consists of five events: mixed doubles, women's singles, men's singles, women's doubles, and men's doubles, each event plays three games, and the team that wins the first eight games wins, which can be said to be a comprehensive test of the comprehensive strength of the participating teams. China and South Korea are both the top four seeds in the tournament and have won all of their previous matches, so this match will also be a crucial battle to determine the title.
In the first mixed doubles, the Chinese team sent a combination of Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha, while the South Korean team was partnered by Zhang Yuzhen and Tian Zhixi. Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha are the world's No. 1 mixed doubles pair and the champions of the Tokyo Olympics. Zhang Yuzhen and Tian Zhixi are the main mixed doubles team of the South Korean team and the top ten pairs in the world, with good tacit understanding and cooperation. In the first game, Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha played well and won 11-7. In the second game, Zhang Yuzhen and Tian Zhixi strengthened their attack, seized the initiative, and pulled back a game 11-8. In the third game, the two sides launched a fierce tug-of-war, and the score once rose alternately, and finally Zhang Yuzhen and Tian Zhixi narrowly won 12-10 and scored the first point for the Korean team.
In the second women's singles, the Chinese team was played by Wang Manyu, and the South Korean team was played by Kim Naying. Wang Manyu is the world's third-ranked women's singles player and a bronze medalist at the Tokyo Olympics. Kim Na-young is the main women's singles player of the South Korean team, ranked 10th in the world, good at fast-changing offensives and has strong explosiveness. In the first game, Wang Manyu took the advantage and won easily 11-6. In the second game, Kim Na-young increased her attack and tried to turn the situation back, but Wang Manyu stabilized her position and won 11-9. In the third game, Wang Manyu completely controlled the game, ending the battle 11-4 and equalizing the total score for the Chinese team.
In the third men's singles, the Chinese team was played by Fan Zhendong, and the South Korean team was played by Lin Zhongxun. Fan Zhendong is the world's No. 1 men's singles player and a silver medalist at the Tokyo Olympics. Lim Joong-hoon is South Korea's main player in men's singles, ranked 11th in the world, and has excellent speed and reflexes, making him a formidable opponent. In the first game, Fan Zhendong played steadily and took the lead 11-8. In the second game, Lin Zhongxun sped up the pace and launched a quick confrontation with Fan Zhendong, but Fan Zhendong was better and won the next game 11-9. In the third game, Fan Zhendong did not give Lin Zhongxun any chance, and locked up the victory 11-5, taking a 2-1 lead for the Chinese team.
In the fourth women's doubles, the Chinese team was paired by Chen Meng and Wang Yidi, and the Korean team was partnered by Shin Yubin and Li Shiwen. Chen Meng and Wang Yidi are the world's No. 1 women's doubles pair and the champions of the Tokyo Olympics. Shin Yubin and Lee Si-win are the main women's doubles team of South Korea, ranked sixth in the world, with strong defensive ability and good at using change to disrupt the rhythm of opponents. In the first game, Shen Yubin and Li Shiwen played amazing defense and won 11-9. In the second game, Chen Meng and Wang Yidi adjusted their tactics, strengthened the power of the attack, and pulled back a game 11-7. In the third game, Chen Meng and Wang Yidi continued to maintain high morale and won 11-6 to get the match point for the Chinese team.
In the fifth men's doubles, the Chinese team will be played by Ma Long and Lim Gaoyuan, while the South Korean team will be played by Lee Sang-so and Ahn Jae-hyun. Ma Long and Lin Gaoyuan are the world's second-ranked men's doubles pair and silver medalists at the Tokyo Olympics. Lee Sang-so and Ahn Jae-hyun are South Korea's men's doubles mainstays, ranked fourth in the world, and they are a tough pair of opponents with excellent pace and coordination. In the first game, Ma Long and Lin Gaoyuan played well and won 11-5. In the second game, Lee Sang-so and Ahn Jae-hyun resisted hard and launched a fierce confrontation with Ma Long and Lin Gaoyuan, but Ma Long and Lin Gaoyuan were better and won the next game 11-9. In the third game, Ma Long and Lim Gaoyuan did not give Lee Sang-so and Ahn Jae-hyun any chance, ending the battle 11-6 and locking the championship for the Chinese team.
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