Recently, the German men's table tennis star Ocharov, who is very popular among Chinese fans, was interviewed by the German TV media about his relationship with China.
Ocharov was born in 1988 and made his international debut at the World Junior Championships in 2003. He led the German men's team to four consecutive podiums in Beijing, London, Rio and Tokyo, winning two silvers and two bronzes.
In 2017, Ocharov won the singles title at the World Cup in Belgium and was officially promoted to the "World Champion". In 2018, Ocharov reached the top of the ITTF world No. 1.
Ocharov has a deep relationship with China, has played in the table tennis super for many years, and has deep friendships with several generations of Chinese players, especially with the national table tennis captain Ma Long, who has a "20 defeated friends", the two in the international arena 20 official encounters, Ma Long kept all victories, Ocharov did his best, so Ocharov was called "Ma Long's big protector" by Chinese fans.
Which cities in China have you visited?
I'm sure I've been to more Chinese cities than Germany. Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Qingdao, Yixing, Nanjing, Tianjin, Changzhou. My coach is from Chengdu and I've been to Chengdu as well. I've been to at least 30 cities in China, and I don't remember the names of some of them. (Familiar with China than with Germany)
What was the first Chinese sentence you learned?
I think it should be "How are you?", now I will be a little more, especially how to communicate with people in some Chinese, especially in the restaurant, "what is there to eat?" or when I want to go to the toilet, "Waiter, where is the toilet?" Actually, I can also communicate well with people on the streets of China, and my Chinese life in China is fine. (In addition to eating, just ask the toilet...) Yun Sadness Yun Sadness)
What's your favorite food in China?
Rice or fried rice, then scrambled eggs with tomatoes and, of course, Peking duck, which I think is number one. (Peking duck seems to have the power to heal foodies all over the world)
Which Chinese players have you eaten with?
I guess I've had dinner with every player I know. Ma Long, Fan Zhendong, Xu Xin, Zhang Jike, Hou Yingchao, Hao Shuai, Chen Xi... Chen Xi invited me to his wedding a few years ago. There were a lot of delicious dishes at the wedding reception, and almost all the players I knew were there. Therefore, I also had dinner with Liu Guoliang and Kong Linghui, including Ma Lin, Wang Liqin, and Wang Hao in the past. I also maintain a "round table relationship" with them, a very friendly and equal relationship. (It seems that he has mastered the essence of dinner table culture)
Who is the player you respect the most in the world?
First of all, I have a lot of respect for all the players I just mentioned, just as I respect other world champions.
Malone is probably the player I have the most relationship with. He and I were actually opponents, I think it was 20 years ago, in Chile in 2004, and we played each other for the first time. Since then, we have started our race in all possible countries in the world, in all possible competitions. Now, the competition continues. (Will the Great Protector be carried out to the end?)
What is your favorite sport?
I like to play a few rounds of golf in the summer, and if I don't have a table tennis game for a few weeks, I will go to play table tennis and I can't take it long. I also love to drive, I've been to the race track a few times, and I love the sport a lot. (Lin Gaoyuan's same hobby)