An important node in the Paris cycle of national table tennis
With the end of the World Cup in Macau, the national table tennis once again showed their dominance on the international stage, and also marked an important node in the selection of the Paris Olympic Games. For the men's team in particular, it has been confirmed that the three players who will participate in the Olympic Games - Wang Chuqin, Fan Zhendong and Ma Long - are a result worth celebrating, among which Wang Chuqin and Fan Zhendong will represent the national table tennis in the singles event, while the experienced Ma Long is a key member of the team competition.
In contrast, the women's team is still in full swing and will be crowned winner at the Saudi Grand Slam.
Sun Yingsha's Paris cycle performance and the lock in Olympic qualification
In the women's team, Sun Yingsha is undoubtedly the most outstanding player. Since the Tokyo Olympic cycle, Sun Yingsha's growth and progress have been obvious to all, not only in terms of technology, but also in terms of psychological quality, all thanks to her tacit cooperation with coach Qiu Yike.
Sun's back-to-back victories in the past tournaments, including the Incheon Championships and the Macau World Cup, not only cemented her world ranking, but also secured her early qualification for the Women's Singles at the Paris Olympics. There is only one place left in the women's singles suspense of the Paris Olympics!
Wang Manyu and Chen Meng's points race and Olympic qualification competition
The competition for Olympic qualification between Chen Meng and Wang Manyu is particularly fierce. At present, Wang Manyu is narrowly ahead of Chen Meng in the standings with 1555 points after the World Cup, which gives her a more favorable starting point in the upcoming Saudi Grand Slam. The importance of this Saudi Grand Slam cannot be overstated, as it not only provides high points, but is also a key battle to determine the qualification for the Olympic Women's Singles.
Therefore, Chen Meng still has a great chance to win the second singles of Olympic women's table tennis. If Chen Meng wants to surpass Wang Manyu in points to qualify for this women's singles, according to the analysis, there are the following 3 possibilities:
The first is either to win the women's singles title at the Saudi Grand Slam;
the second is either to win the runner-up, Wang Manyu did not enter the semi-finals;
The third is either Chen Mengwei lost the foreign war, and Wang Manyu lost the foreign war.
No matter how you analyze it, all three of these scenarios are possible. From this point of view, Chen Meng's desire to win this singles qualification depends on Wang Manyu's performance. The difference between the two is only more than 1,000 points, and Wang Manyu really can't take it lightly, otherwise, the advantages accumulated over Chen Meng in the last three international competitions will be in vain.
Future Prospects: Chen Meng and Wang Manyu's sprint strategy
In the next Saudi Grand Slam, the performance of Chen Meng and Wang Manyu will directly affect their Olympic fate. Chen Meng's challenge is particularly daunting as she not only has to maintain her form, but also strives to surpass it, especially due to the constraints of age and injury. However, fortunately, in this Macau World Cup, we have seen that her technical stability is also obviously improving, which is undoubtedly a good sign.
Wang Manyu, on the other hand, needs to maintain his current competitive form, ensure that he does not make mistakes at critical moments, and that mentality is the key to victory when his skills are not left behind. For both players, this must be a test of technique and physical fitness, but also a contest of psychology and strategy. They need to be cautious every step they take, as any small mistake can change their Olympic qualification.
In such a high-pressure and high-expectation background, every player in the national table tennis women's team needs to play their best. Spectators and fans alike are looking forward to seeing their best performances at the Paris Olympics, and the upcoming Saudi Grand Slam is undoubtedly a key litmus test.
The Saudi Arabian Grand Slam tournament will kick off from May 1st to 11th, and the main event will be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from May 4th to 5.11th, cheering for the national table tennis!