The dust has settled on the Macau World Cup, and Ma Long's name has once again become the focus of the table tennis world.
Many netizens have hotly discussed: Should this table tennis legend take the initiative to choose to retire?
Indeed, in terms of results, Ma Long's athletic career has been brilliant enough: double Grand Slams, Super Grand Slams, 30 world championships, these accolades are enough to keep his head held high at all times.
But then again, competitive sports still pay attention to the word "competition" after all.
In recent years, it is an indisputable fact that Ma Long's competitive form has declined.
Take the recent competition as an example, in the team competition of the World Table Tennis Championships, Ma Long lost to Lee Sang-so and Hugo successively, which was extremely rare in the past.
In the intra-team confrontation, his record against Fan Zhendong, Wang Chuqin, Liang Jingkun and others is also more losses and fewer wins.
There is little variation in the serve and weak holding ability, and these problems are exposed in the match.
One could argue that Malone's presence is a spiritual pillar for the national team, and his experience and prestige are invaluable assets.
But then again, Chinese table tennis is full of talent, and the younger generation of players are eager to play and prove themselves.
Ma Long's occupation of the national team will undoubtedly hinder the growth of these young people.
Furthermore, we cannot ignore the commercial value of Malone. As a table tennis superstar, his endorsement and off-court income are naturally expensive.
But it also raises the question: is he sacrificing the long-term interests of himself and the national team for the sake of these commercial interests?
Of course, some people will mention Ma Long's prestige and status, believing that even if his competitive form declines, he still has an irreplaceable role.
But then again, a true legend is not only about creating brilliance on the field, but also about opting out at the right time to make room for those who come after him.
We might as well review the history of national table tennis.
The big demon king Zhang Yining chose to quit at his peak, making way for Li Xiaoxia, Ding Ning and others.
Later, Ding Ning also chose to retire at the right time, creating opportunities for Sun Yingsha, Chen Meng and others. This inheritance is not only the inheritance of technology, but also the inheritance of spirit.
So, for Malone, now may be the best time.
For the future of the national team, for the growth of the younger generation, and for the healthy development of table tennis, he should choose to retire bravely.
Of course, this does not mean that Ma Long's table tennis career is over.
He can still play his role behind the scenes and contribute to the cause of table tennis.
In closing, I would like to say that no matter what choice Malone ultimately makes, we should respect his decision.
After all, he has brought us so much glory and touch.
And as a fan, we should cherish every game of this legend in front of us, because every encounter may be the last.
So, do you think Malone should choose to retire?
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