In 2024, the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has announced the schedule for the highly anticipated Singles World Cup, which will be held in Macau, China, from April 15 to 21. As the event schedule approached, the Chinese national table tennis team stepped up various preparations before the competition. After a fierce selection, the national table tennis team selected 12 players from the team, each of whom is an elite with extraordinary skills and outstanding strength, and will go all out to compete for top glory.
In this talented team, each selection is a rigorous test of the athletes' all-round strength. In the list of departures announced by Liu Guoliang, the head coach of national table tennis, there is a regrettable player - Qian Tianyi. As a 24-year-old world champion, Qian Tianyi's absence has left many fans and observers regretful. Although Qian Tianyi has attracted attention for her outstanding appearance and excellent skills, the head coach of the women's team, Ma Lin, expressed regret that she was not selected for the competition.
Qian Tianyi, the young player in the team, was a rising star of the 2000s who fought alongside Sun Yingsha, and had high hopes. Her skills and tactical awareness are among the best among young players, and she has represented her country on several occasions with remarkable results. However, as time went on, Qian Tianyi's position in the team gradually became delicate, and she often had to make concessions for other young players, which led to her falling to No. 21 in the world rankings, which was also a career low, and ultimately failed to be selected for the World Cup.
Faced with such adversity, Qian Tianyi decided to take a back seat and serve as a sparring partner for the women's team, choosing to prioritize her personal honor and opportunities to participate in the competition over the interests of the team. This decision is not only for the overall development of the team, but also a way for Qian Tianyi to continue to contribute to the national table tennis. Although in China, national table tennis players are facing fierce competition, if Qian Tianyi's strength is placed on the international stage, she is definitely a main player that cannot be underestimated.
As a sparring partner for the women's team, Qian Tianyi had the opportunity to observe and learn from a different perspective, working closely with her teammates to gain a deeper understanding of their technical characteristics and tactical ideas. This process not only allowed her to learn a lot of valuable experience and skills, but also helped her identify her own shortcomings and potential room for improvement, and fully prepared for a possible comeback or career change in the future.
The national team expressed support for Qian Tianyi's choice and arranged for her to go to Shanghai Sports University for further study. Although she may not be able to compete in top tournaments like the Olympics, World Cup and World Championships again, Qian Tianyi will have the opportunity to translate her experience and knowledge in table tennis into theoretical knowledge at Shanghai Sport University, laying a solid foundation for her future career as a coach.
Liu Guoliang's announcement of the departure list revealed the farewell of a 24-year-old world champion, and Ma Lin and the majority of fans expressed helplessness and regret for it. With the Macau World Cup approaching, people are still looking forward to the wonderful performances and brilliant achievements of the national table tennis players on the court, although Qian Tianyi was unable to participate, her story and dedication will also inspire every athlete who pursues their dreams.