When the national table tennis team stepped onto the world stage again, the mood of countless fans was high. However, this year's World Cup in Macau has brought a series of unexpected twists and turns. Especially for the supporters of the national table tennis men's team, the first day of the game is like a roller coaster of emotions - excited, nervous, worried, and all kinds of emotions are intertwined. And behind all this, Liu Guoliang, the spiritual leader of national table tennis, seems to have unspeakable concerns.
First of all, this year's World Cup has expanded in size and has a complex schedule that will dazzle participants and spectators alike. The national table tennis men's team performed well in the preliminary round, but unexpectedly had a bye the next day, which seemed to imply some kind of "special protection", which caused widespread speculation and heated discussions in the outside world.
Before the start of the competition, the Olympic selection rules of the national table tennis women's team have been adjusted, clearly stipulating that if they lose five consecutive games to players from other associations in international competitions, they will lose the opportunity to compete for the Olympic women's singles qualification. As soon as this rigid regulation was issued, it aroused widespread concern from all walks of life, and the pressure was enormous. In contrast, the men's team did not make the same rule adjustments, and this seemingly biased decision is confusing.
On the first day of the competition, the national table tennis women's team quickly entered the state, while the men's team seemed a little powerless. The main players Wang Chuqin and Lin Gaoyuan fought to a draw, which was almost unimaginable in previous large-scale events. Although Ma Long won 4-0, he failed to fully suppress his opponent, showing the various challenges faced by the national table tennis men's team.
If the men's team also adopts the selection rule of "five consecutive defeats and elimination", the main players such as Fan Zhendong, Wang Chuqin, and Ma Long will be under huge pressure and risk, which is extremely detrimental to the morale and stability of the entire team. Liu Guoliang's difficulty at this time lies in how to maintain the team's morale and confidence, and also take into account the long-term development of the entire national table tennis.
The Table Tennis Association did not impose the same rule adjustment on the men's team, which not only reflects the careful consideration of the players' state, but also the foresight of the future strategy. Although this strategy seems to take special care of the men's team, it is actually a solid foundation for the future development of Chinese table tennis.