The rise of the new generation of national table tennis Wang Chuqin and Fan Zhendong locked in the men's singles ticket for the Paris Olympics
On May 7, 2024, the Chinese table tennis team officially announced the list of participants in the men's singles event for the upcoming Paris Olympics. According to the selection points rules within the national team, young athletes Wang Chuqin and Fan Zhendong qualified for two men's singles competitions with a total of 22,425 and 17,678 points respectively. This means that two-time Olympic men's singles champion Ma Long missed out on a third consecutive title, and his 14,535 points are lower than Wang Chuqin and Fan Zhendong. Although Ma Long missed the men's singles event, he is expected to participate in the men's team competition with the team.
This announced list marks an important moment for the replacement of the old and new in the men's singles event of national table tennis. As the standard-bearer of Chinese table tennis, Ma Long has been unbeatable in the past two Olympic Games, but now that he is getting older and his physical fitness is gradually declining, it is difficult to win in the fierce internal selection. Wang Chuqin and Fan Zhendong are both young forces who have come from behind, and they have been eye-catching in various competitions in recent years, especially Wang Chuqin, who has beaten Ma Long several times with his outstanding performances to win higher internal points.
The selection process is fair and impartial
The internal selection system of the national team has always attracted much attention from the outside world. How did the selection process for the men's singles event work? According to the understanding, the Chinese Table Tennis Association has formulated a set of strict points rules, and the performance of athletes in various important domestic and foreign events in the past year will be counted in points. The two athletes with the highest points will qualify for the Olympic Men's Singles. This rule is fair and just, avoids artificial selection, and truly embodies the principle of "strength first".
Although Ma Long has achieved great results in the past two Olympic Games, his form has dropped significantly in the new Olympic cycle. The young duo of Wang Chuqin and Fan Zhendong have been even better in recent years, beating Ma Long in multiple tournaments to earn more points. Although Ma Long's status and honor were unmatched, according to the rules, he ultimately lost to a much stronger younger opponent.
Ma Long missed the triple championship and the new generation of successors
For Ma Long, it is undoubtedly a huge regret to miss the men's singles event at the Paris Olympics. As a leading figure in Chinese table tennis, he won back-to-back gold medals at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, and if he succeeds in defending his title in Paris, he will have won three consecutive titles. But the reality is that Ma Long's state is no longer supportable, and the rise of the new generation is also the general trend.
Malone is not leaving the national team. According to sources, he is likely to play in the men's team event as a veteran, providing valuable experience and guidance to the younger players. In the team competition, Ma Long's stable performance will add a lot of strength to the national team. In the men's singles event, Wang Chuqin and Fan Zhendong will go all out to win the Olympic gold medal for the national team.
For Wang Chuqin and Fan Zhendong, this is the most important opportunity of their careers. In an interview after his victory, Wang hinted that he would work for his "ultimate goal", most likely the upcoming Paris Olympics. As the leaders of the new generation of national table tennis, they will go all out to shine in the Olympic arena and strive to extend the glory of Chinese table tennis.
The old and the new alternate the future of national table tennis
This list of men's singles participants for the Paris Olympics reflects the general trend of replacing the old and the new in national table tennis. The brilliance of the older generation of athletes such as Ma Long will gradually be replaced by young forces such as Wang Chuqin and Fan Zhendong. But this transition between the old and the new is not achieved overnight, but is a gradual process. The veterans will gradually step back into the background to provide guidance to the younger players; The younger generation will gradually grow up in major competitions, and finally complete a smooth transition with the seniors.
From this point of view, the future of national table tennis is bright. Through a scientific and fair selection mechanism, outstanding young athletes can stand out and become the new mainstay of the national team. The valuable experience of the older generation will also be passed on well to escort the younger players. In this virtuous circle of alternating the old and the new, the overall strength of Chinese table tennis will continue to improve, and it will continue to be brilliant in the future Olympic Games and other major events.
Listen up! The men's singles list of the national table tennis Paris Olympics was officially announced: Fan Zhendong and Wang Chuqin went out together. This list marks the rise of the new generation of national table tennis, and young athletes will shine in the Olympic arena and strive to continue the glorious tradition of Chinese table tennis. The older generation of athletes will gradually recede into the background, providing valuable experience and guidance to the younger players, and achieving a virtuous cycle of replacement between the old and the new. Under the scientific and fair selection mechanism, the overall strength of national table tennis will continue to improve, and the future is bright.