For national table tennis, Lin Gaoyuan is definitely a rising star. At the 2023 Macau Singles World Cup, he went all the way to the final in a thrilling way. Although he failed to win the championship trophy in the end, Lin Gaoyuan's wonderful performance injected new vitality into national table tennis and made people look forward to his future.
However, in this fierce competition, Lin Gaoyuan still revealed his "weakness" at a critical moment. Despite his previous impressive performances, he was still defeated in front of the championship goal in the final against Ma Long. This defeat once again highlighted Lin Gaoyuan's shortcomings in psychological quality, and also raised questions from the outside world about whether he can really become the pillar of national table tennis.
So, how did Lin Gaoyuan get to where he is today? How far has he really advanced in technology? And why is it always difficult to play at the right level at critical moments? What are the untold stories behind this?
Lin Gaoyuan's table tennis road has not been smooth sailing. In 2012, he entered the youth team of the national team and became the No. 5 main player in national table tennis. At that time, national table tennis was already the absolute hegemon of the world table tennis arena, and Lin Gaoyuan was undoubtedly the most eye-catching one among many rising stars.
But after entering the national team, Lin Gaoyuan did not get on the fast track as he wished. Compared to other star players in the same period, his progress has been relatively slow. Within the national table tennis, it is difficult for him to break through the monopoly of the first few main players, and he can only be a "No. 5".
This situation is not exclusive to him alone, there has always been such a group of players in national table tennis - excellent skills, but it is difficult to cross from the position of "No. 5" to the pillar. Liu Guoliang, a famous table tennis coach, once commented on this problem: "Lin Gaoyuan fought very well, but he was still soft when he was supposed to play the killer in that 0.1 second, which seems to be a pity, but in this pity, it is possible that he has committed countless crimes in previous games or previous games." "
It can be said that the dilemma faced by Lin Gaoyuan is a problem that has always existed in national table tennis. Why is it that some players who seem to have excellent skills, but it is difficult to break the monopoly of the first few main players, are always difficult to get ahead? What is the story behind this?
To answer this question, we first need to start with Lin Gaoyuan's psychological quality. In the final of the Macau Singles World Cup, Lin Gaoyuan grasped the initiative on the court and led Ma Long in the first three games. But just before the championship trophy just a stone's throw away, he once again showed his weakness - at critical moments, he became "soft-handed" and "timid", and many balls were afraid to be sent out vigorously. This made the championship that was bound to be won fall short in the end.
This is not the first time Lin Gaoyuan has collapsed at a critical moment. In previous matches, he has also performed poorly on many occasions and has struggled to perform at the level he should have. As Liu Guoliang said, this may not be a temporary "pity", but a problem that Lin Gaoyuan has been having for many years.
A large part of the reason for this is that Lin Gaoyuan's psychological quality is problematic. As a professional athlete, the training of mental quality is just as important, and it can even be said that it is more important than the technical level. But unfortunately, this has always been a major weakness of the national table tennis team.
In this national table tennis team that is known for its skills, many players have similar problems. They are technically comparable to the world's best, but they just struggle to perform at the right level in crucial moments, and they are always defeated in front of the champions who are close at hand. This phenomenon not only appears in Lin Gaoyuan, but also in the main players of national table tennis No. 5.
The training of national table tennis has always focused on a high degree of standardization at the technical level. From an early age, players must receive strict training, constantly hone their basic skills, and strive to standardize their movements and strengthen discipline. This kind of training mode has indeed cultivated a large number of players with excellent skills, but it is inevitable to ignore the cultivation of psychological quality.
In this highly standardized training model, players are often asked to overcome their egos and obey the collective. Individualized mental training is often overlooked, and it is difficult for players to develop the ability to think independently and withstand pressure in this environment.
Collapse often occurs when they need to play a great mental quality at a critical moment. Because over the years, they have become accustomed to relying on standardized training, and it is difficult for them to cope with unexpected situations and great stress.
In addition to the problem of training mode, the management mechanism of national table tennis also greatly affects the psychological quality training of players. In such a highly centralized system as national table tennis, it is difficult to pay attention to the personal development of players.
Often, national table tennis is more inclined to invest more resources in the improvement of technology, while ignoring the cultivation of personalized psychological quality. In an environment that emphasizes collectivity, it is difficult to give enough attention and targeted training to each player.
In addition, the promotion mechanism of national table tennis has also greatly affected the psychological quality of players. In such a competitive environment, players are often forced to focus too much on external indicators and ignore their own internal development. This is also not conducive to the formation of a good psychological quality for them.
It is precisely because of these structural problems that there has always been such a group of "No. 5 main forces" in the national table tennis team, with outstanding skills but it is difficult to play at critical moments. Their experience also reflects the deep-seated problems in the cultivation of psychological quality in national table tennis.
The status of national table tennis as a table tennis power stems from its accumulated technical accumulation and training system for many years. However, as Lin Gaoyuan's experience reflects, it is often difficult to fully unleash the potential of players by relying on technique alone, and the cultivation of psychological quality is equally important. To completely solve this problem, it is necessary for the national table tennis to fundamentally promote reform.
First of all, national table tennis needs to change the current highly standardized training model and give players more room for personalized development. In the past, the training method that required players to completely obey the collective and overcome themselves was obviously difficult to adapt to the development needs of table tennis.
In the future, national table tennis should pay more attention to the personal characteristics and psychological needs of players on the basis of retaining the standardization of technical training. Through targeted psychological counseling, we help players build self-confidence, develop independent thinking and the ability to withstand pressure. Let them strengthen their basic skills at the same time, but also be able to explore and give full play to their unique advantages.
Only in this way can the rising stars of national table tennis not only maintain excellent skills, but also play at their due level at critical moments, and no longer repeat the mistakes of Lin Gaoyuan.
It is important to change the training method, but in order to truly solve the problem of psychological quality that is common in the national table tennis team, it is also necessary to start with the management mechanism.
At present, the promotion mechanism of national table tennis pays too much attention to external indicators, which is easy for players to pay too much attention to the results and ignore the internal development of individuals. In the future, the national table tennis should improve this mechanism, pay more attention to the comprehensive quality of players, and give them enough room for growth and psychological care.
At the same time, national table tennis should also create a more relaxed environment to encourage players to have the courage to try and break through. In the past, the practice of overemphasizing discipline and requiring players to obey completely has been difficult to adapt to the development needs of table tennis in the new era.
Only by changing this rigid management style and creating a more relaxed and inclusive environment for players can they truly unpack their psychological baggage and perform at their due level in key moments.
In addition to changing the training mode and management mechanism, the national table tennis also needs to further strengthen the construction of the coaching team and promote the overall transformation.
In the past, the coaching team of national table tennis was mainly composed of retired players, although they had strong professionalism at the technical level, but their experience in psychological counseling was relatively weak. In the future, the national table tennis should introduce more professionals with psychological backgrounds to help the coaching team systematically improve their psychological counseling capabilities.
At the same time, the national table tennis should also increase investment in the training of the coaching team, encourage them to continue to learn and innovate, and integrate the concept of psychological quality training into daily training. Only in this way can we truly promote the overall transformation of the entire national table tennis team, help the new generation of players better overcome psychological barriers, and play their due level at critical moments.