On a spring dawn in 1995, when the morning light had not yet completely sprinkled the earth, a general order of the General Administration of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) spread rapidly through the barracks like a torrent.
The general order is unusual in that its protagonist is a soldier, but his battlefield is not on the front line, but at the ping-pong table.
That soldier is Wang Tao, an athlete who has achieved extraordinary achievements in the field of table tennis. This general decree announced: Wang Tao was given a first-class meritorious service, and his technical level was raised to the equivalent of a deputy division.
In that era, all those who could receive such honors were heroes who made outstanding contributions in important fields such as military and science and technology.
However, Wang Tao's heroic journey is not an iron-blooded journey, but a brilliant depiction on the blue table tennis table with a small racket.
Behind this honor is Wang Tao's hard work and struggle in the field of table tennis for several years, his countless fierce battles for the country in international competitions, and the victory of the Chinese table tennis spirit he represents.
Barcelona 1992: A glorious moment for Chinese table tennis
The 1992 Barcelona Olympics brought unprecedented glory and challenges to the Chinese table tennis team. In the women's team and singles events, the Chinese women's team won two gold medals by an overwhelming margin, once again proving China's leading position in women's table tennis.
The audience was crazy, cheering for every point of the Chinese women's team and cheering for every wonderful return. These victories not only added luster to the Chinese delegation, but also added glory to the status of Chinese table tennis on the international stage.
However, the situation faced by the men's team was very different. In the singles event, the Chinese men's team lost unexpectedly and missed out on a medal, a result that frustrated the whole team.
This unexpected defeat also made the coaches and athletes of the Chinese team feel unprecedented pressure. They know that all hope must now be pinned on the men's doubles event.
Wang Tao and Lu Lin became the bearers of this hope. Their combination not only shoulders personal honor, but also carries the expectations of hundreds of millions of Chinese and the honor of the country.
In the preparation before the game, the two underwent intensive training, adjusted their state and optimized their tactics. The coaching staff has carefully designed their tactical set-up to get the most out of the game.
The leap from bronze to gold
After defeating France's Geitin and Elois in the quarter-finals, Wang Tao and Lu Lin stood at a higher starting point in the Olympic arena. Although their original intention was only to win a bronze medal for the Chinese team, as the competition deepened, their goals and self-expectations were also quietly rising.
This change is not only because they are already on the verge of potentially rewriting history, but also because they are beginning to be more eager to show the strength and style of Chinese table tennis on the world stage.
When facing World Cup champions Liu Nam-kui and Kim Taek-so in the semi-finals, Wang Tao and Lu Lin faced a lot of pressure and challenge. The two South Koreans are known for their excellent skills and tacit cooperation, and their strength should not be underestimated.
However, in the face of a strong enemy, Wang Tao and Lu Lin did not show the slightest retreat. In the match, the two showed extraordinary competitive form with their precise serves, nimble movements and impeccable coordination. The landing point of each ball is carefully calculated, and every attack is full of power and precision. Their performance not only put pressure on their opponents, but also exhilarated the spectators and Chinese table tennis fans around the world.
As the match progressed, Wang Tao and Lu Lin were in better form, and they beat Liu Nam-kui and Kim Taek-so in a near-perfect performance to advance to the final.
This victory is not only a testament to their technical and tactical prowess, but also a testament to their resilience. The victory reverberated hugely within the Chinese table tennis team, with all the players and coaches proud of their success.
After advancing to the final, Wang Tao and Lu Lin will face Roscoff and Fitzner from Germany, two players who have won the World Table Tennis Championships doubles championship and have comprehensive skills and rich experience.
Facing such an opponent, Wang Tao and Lu Lin knew that the game would be extremely difficult. In the pre-match preparations, they carefully studied the opponent's game footage, analysed the opponent's technical characteristics and possible tactics. The coaching team also worked out a detailed coping strategy for them, hoping to take the initiative in the final.
Calm and reversal in the face of adversity
In the stadium in Barcelona, tension and anticipation filled the air, and as the game progressed, Wang Tao and Lu Lin faced tremendous pressure.
Germany's Roscoff and Fitzner showed why they are one of the world's top doubles pairs, with their fluid interplay and sharp attacking prowess that almost gave Wang Tao and Lu Lin a respite.
The unfavorable start to the game, with 20-15 down, made the atmosphere in the stadium even more depressing, and the supporters of the Chinese team nervously clenched the national flag in their hands, hoping to witness a miracle happen.
At this critical moment, Wang Tao and Lu Lin did not give up, and every eye contact they made on the court seemed extremely firm. When Wang Tao was serving, he took a deep breath, and his eyes were full of determination.
The ball was fast and steady and landed accurately, earning them valuable points. Not to be outdone, Lu Lin showed exceptional skill in receiving and defending, successfully defusing the opponent's fierce attacks on many occasions.
As the score gradually caught up, the atmosphere of the game became more tense. The crowd shouted louder and louder, cheering for every wonderful return and score.
Wang Tao and Lu Lin seem to have found the rhythm of the game, their cooperation is becoming more and more tacit, and the transition between offense and defense is smooth and free. Every successful score adds one point to their confidence.
When the score reached 20 ping, the atmosphere of the entire stadium reached a boiling point. At this time, Wang Tao and Lu Lin were fully in shape, and every movement and every shot they made on the court was full of power and precision.
In the face of the stubborn resistance of the German group, they did not show the slightest panic. As the game deepened, the scores of both sides rose alternately, and the score showed several lead exchanges.
At the critical moment, Wang Tao and Lu Lin scored consecutive points through a series of fast and accurate cooperation, and finally completed the reversal of this game 26-24.
At this moment, the entire stadium boiled over, the supporters of the Chinese team cheered, and the European audience expressed their surprise and admiration at this brilliant reversal. Wang Tao and Lu Lin hugged tightly on the field, their eyes glistening with tears, and the victory at this moment meant a lot to them.
The spirit of perseverance
As the match entered the second game, Germany's Roscoff and Fitzner clearly adjusted their tactics to respond to the loss in the first game with a more aggressive and aggressive style of play.
They moved more quickly on the field and attacked the ball more sharply, almost pushing the game to a new climax. Wang Tao and Lu Lin, although with the afterglow of the first game victory, soon found themselves facing a more ferocious opponent.
The atmosphere of the match was tense and high-pitched, and the German's consecutive scores allowed Wang Tao and Lu Lin's lead to gradually shrink.
As the score caught up closely, Wang Tao and Lu Lin seemed to have opted for a more conservative style of play, a strategy that reduced mistakes to some extent, but also reduced their scoring efficiency.
Soon, this conservative style of play led to them losing points in a row, seeing that the original lead was quickly erased by the opponent, and then losing 9 points in a row, making the score behind.
In the face of such adversity, the atmosphere on the field has become more dignified. Germany's Roscoff and Fitzner seemed to seize the initiative in the game, with cheers on their every score.
And Wang Tao and Lu Lin were extraordinarily calm at this moment, they were not bothered by the temporary backwardness, but were looking for a way to crack the opponent.
At the beginning of the decisive game, Wang Tao and Lu Lin seemed to have adjusted their mentality and strategy. Their style of play began to change, and through precise landing points and quick line changes, the Germans were forced to constantly adjust their positions, and this tactical change allowed Wang Tao and Lu Lin to gradually regain the initiative in the game. They are no longer conservative, but have made it difficult for Roscoff and Fitzner to adapt through flexible offensive and defensive transitions.
The game entered a critical moment, and the tacit cooperation between Wang Tao and Lu Lin reached its peak. Through a series of exquisite combinations and strategies, they scored several points in a row and gradually widened the gap with their opponents.
In this moment, they were completely in control of the pace of the game, scoring almost flawlessly with every score, showing their extraordinary perseverance and intelligence.
In the end, in this challenging and reversal match, Wang Tao and Lu Lin won the tiebreaker 21-14 and successfully won the gold medal.
At this moment, the entire stadium erupted in thunderous applause and cheers, and the supporters of the Chinese team burst into tears, proud of the outstanding performance of these two Chinese table tennis players. Wang Tao and Lu Lin hugged tightly on the field, and their success was not only a personal glory, but also won respect and honor for the country.
Wang Tao: The glory and persistence of table tennis heroes
Wang Tao's performance not only caused a huge sensation in the sports world, but also deeply touched the top of the country and the military. His outstanding performance and perseverance have become a model for the whole country to learn from.
In recognition of his achievements at the Olympic Games, Wang Tao was awarded the title of "Outstanding Athlete", which is one of the highest honors for an athlete, symbolizing that he has not only achieved outstanding results in the field of sports, but also gave people great encouragement on the spiritual level.
In addition, Wang Tao also won the second-class heroic model medal, which not only represents personal glory, but also affirms his unremitting efforts and perseverance.
At the ceremony of receiving the medal, Wang Tao was dressed in the sports equipment of the national team, and his chest shone with the light of honor, and at this moment, he became a hero in the hearts of hundreds of millions of Chinese.
As time went on, Wang Tao's table tennis career continued to move forward. In 1994, he jumped to second place in the world rankings, a year that was so good that it was hailed by critics as the "Year of Wang Tao".
In this year, he has not only won many good results in international competitions, but also has significantly improved his skills and tactics, and his name has become a symbol of the table tennis world, representing the strength of Chinese table tennis and the respect of the world table tennis world.
In 1995, Wang Tao's honor was upgraded again, he was awarded a shining military merit medal, and was promoted to the third level of sports in advance, which was equivalent to the professional and technical level of the deputy division at that time, and this kind of honor was extremely rare for an athlete in peacetime.
This is not only a recognition of Wang Tao's personal achievements in the field of sports, but also a high evaluation of his excellent qualities and spirit of winning glory for the country as a soldier.
At the commendation meeting held by the Physical Work Brigade, General Yu Yongbo, director of the General Political Department of the People's Liberation Army, specially attended the ceremony to wear a military merit medal for Wang Tao, which was not only an affirmation of Wang Tao's personal honor, but also an encouragement to all PLA athletes.
When accepting the commendation, Wang Tao said: "It is the army that has nurtured me, and my roots are in the barracks. This sentence deeply reflects his deep affection for the army, as well as his pride and sense of responsibility as a soldier.
In the days that followed, Wang Tao continued to make brilliant achievements in the field of table tennis, not only after winning his 8th World Series championship at the 43rd World Table Tennis Championships, but also won the fourth first-class military merit medal, becoming one of the people with the most first-class merits among the 3 million soldiers of the People's Liberation Army. At the same time, he was also promoted ahead of schedule to the army's sports level 3, which is equivalent to the professional and technical level of the deputy division.
Resources
[1] Tang Zhe Wang Tao: Ping Pong without "match-fixing"[J].China Quality Journey,2003(11):57-58