The WTT Men's Finals, a major event in the table tennis world, has come to an end with all the anticipation. This competition is not only about the honor of the contestants, but also an important test for the selection and inspection of the national table tennis Olympics. According to the joint policy of the ITTF and the China Table Tennis Association, the singles champion of the WTT Men's Finals will receive up to 1,500 world ranking points, as well as 2,000 team selection points. This policy has had a profound impact on the competition pattern within the national table tennis men's team.
Before the WTT Men's Finals, the competitive landscape of the national table tennis men's team was relatively stable, but with the end of this event, some potential contenders have emerged, bringing new variables to the original competitive landscape. This not only provides a richer talent pool for the national table tennis men's team, but also makes the future Olympic selection full of suspense and expectations.
The national table tennis men's team has always been proud of its strong strength and stable performance. However, the charm of any competitive sport comes from competition, and competition comes from the unknown and variable. The WTT Men's Finals has brought new variables to the national table tennis men's team and added more possibilities for the future Olympic road. Whether it is a player who has already been selected or a new dark horse, they all know that success or failure at this moment will affect their future destiny. Therefore, they will cherish every opportunity to compete more and train and prepare harder in order to continue to show their best form in future competitions.
In this men's singles competition, Wang Chuqin successfully won the championship title with his outstanding performance and tenacity. This victory not only won him a high honor, but also made him jump to the first place in the national table tennis Olympic standings. Fan Zhendong, who had been at the top of the list before, although he achieved a good result of second place in this game, he still could not prevent Wang Chuqin from surpassing the points and retreated to second place.
At the same time, Malone still retains the third position in the standings, showing his consistent strength and excellent form. The performances of Liang Jingkun and Lin Gaoyuan are also quite good, followed by the overall strength and deep talent reserve of the Chinese table tennis team. This result undoubtedly brought new vitality and motivation to the Chinese table tennis team, but also brought more pressure to players from other countries. Some people are happy and some are sad, but for the Chinese table tennis team, this is a new beginning full of hope and challenges.
Among all the friends who pay attention to the world table tennis world, they should all know that in the Paris Olympic cycle, the selection plan of the Chinese team has been adjusted. This scheme uses a points system, but the points here are not a single source, but are divided into two parts: world ranking points and team selection points. In order to ensure the fairness and accuracy of the selection, the Chinese Table Tennis Association has made clear provisions on this. Specifically, for the period of the year from 8 May 2023 to 7 May 2024, the results of all relevant international competitions will be included in the calculation of award points for international competitions. This ensures that the performance of the players on the international stage is given the attention they deserve, and also provides them with a clear and level playing field. This points system not only motivates players to strive for better results in the international arena, but also makes the selection process more transparent and fair.
In the upcoming tournament, the top two athletes in the standings will qualify for singles. With their outstanding performance and consistent strength, they have become the core strength of every team. The selection of the third person in the group is decided by the coaching staff, who will make a careful choice based on the technical and tactical characteristics of the players, their experience and the overall level of cooperation with the team.
In mixed doubles, since the participating pairs are determined directly based on the world rankings on May 7, 2024, Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha, as the current top-ranked pair, have no suspense to be selected. Their tacit cooperation and strong strength will undoubtedly win valuable points for the team. Now, the most talked-about thing is the attribution of singles spots. This is not only a test of the athlete's individual strength, but also an affirmation of his status in the team. Every athlete wants to show their strength in the singles competition and win glory for the team. As a result, competition for this spot is particularly fierce. The final decision will be made by the coaching staff based on a combination of factors, including the athlete's ranking, recent performance, technical and tactical characteristics, and how well they work with their teammates.
Before the start of the WTT men's finals, Fan Zhendong, as the leader of the Chinese table tennis team, occupied the top spot in the Olympic standings for a long time. His consistent performance and strong strength have made him a leader in the international table tennis world. However, the fierce competition in the finals has changed the ranking situation. Wang Chuqin showed amazing strength and stable psychological quality in this finals, and successfully won the championship. This accolade earned him a total of 3,500 points, which led to a significant increase in his world rankings. At the same time, although Fan Zhendong won the runner-up, he also gained a total of 2050 points. The 2,050 points include the 1,050 points he earned from the world rankings, as well as the 1,000 points he earned in the team selection.
In addition to Fan Zhendong and Wang Chuqin, other contestants have also gained. They showed their quality and potential in the competition, accumulating valuable experience for future competitions. In the top five of the latest world rankings, Wang Chuqin has surpassed Fan Zhendong to become the new world No. 1 with his outstanding performance in the finals. Although Fan Zhendong lost the top position, he is still an important member of the Chinese table tennis team, and his strength and experience are still valuable assets for the Chinese team. Other players are also working hard to improve their rankings and are looking forward to even better results in future competitions.
- Wang Chuqin: 14852 points;
- Fan Zhendong: 14809 points;
- Ma Long: 8265 points;
- Liang Jingkun: 4035 points;
- Lin Gaoyuan: 2215 points.
Wang Chuqin has performed well in a series of recent competitions, and his points have officially surpassed Fan Zhendong to become the new king of the Olympic standings of the national table tennis men's team. This news not only brought new hope to the national table tennis men's team, but also brought honor and affirmation to Wang Chuqin personally. His hard work and talent have been duly rewarded, and it's really gratifying!
At the same time, Ma Long seems to be gradually falling behind in the competition for Olympic men's singles qualification. Although he has maintained a steady performance, his performance in recent internal and external wars does not seem to be as good as his two junior brothers, Wang Chuqin and Fan Zhendong. This puts his position in the table at risk, and it will not be easy to overtake his two juniors and enter the top two in the standings. As for other players such as Liang Jingkun and Lin Gaoyuan, the gap between them and Fan Zhendong has widened to more than 10,000 points. This means that if they want to qualify for the Olympic Men's Singles, they will need not only to perform well, but also to have more luck and chances. At the moment, it seems that they are more likely to compete for P-card (substitute) qualification than for the main draw.
Despite some regressions in recent tournaments, Fan's position in the world rankings remains solid. The point gap with Wang Chuqin is only 43 points, which is almost negligible. In comparison, he is 6,544 points higher than Malone, which is a considerable advantage. This shows that Fan Zhendong still maintains a strong competitiveness, and a temporary defeat will not change the huge advantage he has established before. Therefore, Fan Zhendong has a great hope of being selected for singles and continuing to show his strength and talent.
Of course, for Wang Chuqin and Fan Zhendong, two excellent table tennis players, their goal is definitely not just to participate in the singles competition at the Olympic Games. Their goal is to win the gold medal at the Olympics, bring glory to their homeland, and make history for themselves. As a young and promising player, Wang Chuqin has already shown strong strength and potential in domestic and foreign competitions. He has great technique, a nimble mind and a tenacious fighting spirit, which are all key factors in making him a top contender. He is eager to prove his strength on the Olympic stage and bring glory to his country.
Fan Zhendong is one of the leaders of the Chinese men's table tennis team and a leader in the world table tennis world. He has competed in the Olympics and won a silver medal at the last Olympics. For Fan Zhendong, it has always been his dream to compete in the Olympics again and win a gold medal. He knows it means more pressure and higher expectations, but he also knows it's what keeps him going.
What's more, Fan Zhendong is about three years older than Wang Chuqin, which means that in the next four years, Fan Zhendong will face greater physical and competitive pressure. If Wang loses in singles at this year's Olympics, he still has time to wait for his chance in 2028. But for Fan Zhendong, he will be a 31-year-old veteran in four years' time, which is a huge challenge for him who needs a high level of physical output. Although his style of play has proven his strength and talent to some extent, it is undoubtedly difficult to become an evergreen in the table tennis world like Ma Long. Therefore, for Fan Zhendong, the competition in the Paris Olympics can be said to be a backwater, and there is no way back.
The competition has quietly begun, and both Wang Chuqin and Fan Zhendong will need to face strong challenges from their teammates and other countries. Winners and losers are unpredictable, and that's the beauty of competitive sports. Let's look forward to this battle in the national table tennis team and cheer for every player. I believe that they can show their best in the game, win glory for the country, and make a name for themselves.