Malone suffered Waterloo and his career will come to an end?
In March 2024, at the WTT Grand Slam Table Tennis Open held in Saudi Arabia, Chinese table tennis legend Ma Long suffered Waterloo. The three-time World Cup champion and two-time Olympic gold medal in men's singles was swept out of the Saudi Arabian arena with a series of upsets, 0-3. This is undoubtedly a major blow to Ma Long's career, and it also makes the outside world question whether he is beyond his strength and whether he can defend his title at the upcoming Paris Olympics.
Since making his debut with the national team in 2008, Ma Long has been the number one main player of the Chinese table tennis team. With his excellent serve, superb technique and tenacious perseverance, he has repeatedly turned the tide at key moments and won glory for the national team. However, time flies, and Ma Long is 34 years old this year, and it is really a challenge for a table tennis player of this age to stay in peak condition.
At the Saudi Open, Malone's opponents clearly did their homework, and he knew everything he could. The young opponents, with their more youthful physical strength and reflexes, kept Malone firmly in check. On the court, Malone's serve could no longer pose the same threat as before, and his offense lost its razor-sharp lethality. The former king had to endure all his life on the field.
In the face of Ma Long's poor performance at the Saudi Open, commentators have said that this may be the end of Ma Long's career. Malone won the World Cup in Houston in 2022, and that could be the last highlight of his career. If he loses again at the upcoming Paris Olympics, Malone will most likely choose to retire and leave the main position to the younger generation.
Saudi tourism targets Chinese tourists
Despite Malone's Waterloo at the Saudi Open, the Middle Eastern country, which has its own unique tourism resources, is making a big push for tourism, targeting China, the world's largest exporter of tourists.
Located on the Arabian Peninsula, at the crossroads of Asia and Africa, Saudi Arabia is a magical and legendary country. It is not only rich in oil resources, but also has gorgeous and colorful natural landscapes and a long historical and cultural heritage.
The most attractive attraction for Chinese tourists is the sunset in Saudi Arabia. In the red seaside city of Dammam, the whole city is shrouded in a brilliant orange red color every time the sun sets. The sunset transforms the sea, sand, palm trees and mosques into dreamy colours. Here, visitors can enjoy one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world.
In addition to Dammam, there are many other places in Saudi Arabia where you can enjoy the sunset. In the Rahman desert on the outskirts of Riyadh, there is a luxury tented resort. Visitors can take an off-road vehicle ride through the desert and enjoy the mesmerizing sunset over the depths of the desert. As the sun sets, the entire sky is rendered fiery red, contrasting with the golden sand dunes, creating a stunning natural landscape.
In order to attract more Chinese tourists, Saudi Arabia's tourism industry is stepping up. In addition to the sunset landscape, the country is also rich in cultural heritage, such as the ancient city of Sukh in Muscat, the Forbidden City of Mecca, and more. Saudi tourism practitioners are learning Chinese and launching more travel routes and products for Chinese tourists.
Ma Long's sunset is a new dawn for Chinese table tennis
Although Malone suffered a waterloo at the Saudi Open, it doesn't mean his career is over. On the contrary, this is just a low point in Ma Long's career, just like the darkness after sunset, which will finally usher in the dawn of a new day.
In an interview after the race, Malone said that he would learn the lessons of this defeat and continue to train hard to fully prepare for the upcoming Paris Olympics. "It's true that I'm no longer young now, but my determination and fighting spirit haven't wavered in the slightest. I will definitely do my best to win more honours for the national team. ＂
For Malone, the Saudi Open loss may have been just a minor episode in his career. Looking back on Ma Long's career journey, he has turned the tide in important competitions many times and turned the tide with tenacious perseverance. In the men's singles final of the 2012 London Olympics, Ma Long fought back from behind, and finally won the championship; In the 2017 World Cup final, he also won the championship after falling behind in three consecutive games. Malone has always been a high-spirited warrior who has never been crushed by any setbacks.
Now, Malone is in the twilight of his career, like the afterglow of the setting sun. But at this time, a new generation of young players in Chinese table tennis, such as Fan Zhendong and Lin Gaoyuan, are also gradually growing up, and they will soon become the new force of Chinese table tennis. Just like after the sun sets, the dawn will finally come.
Ma Long may be the last rays of the sunset in Chinese table tennis, and the younger generation will be the dawn of a new day. At the Paris Olympics, Ma Long may pass the baton, and the young players will go all out to create a new glory for Chinese table tennis.
Although Malone suffered a waterloo at the Saudi Open, it doesn't mean his career is over. On the contrary, this is just a low point in Ma Long's career, just like the darkness after the sunset, which will finally usher in the dawn of a new day. Saudi Arabia is vigorously developing tourism, and its beautiful sunset scenery has attracted many Chinese tourists. Ma Long's sunset may soon pass, but the new dawn of Chinese table tennis will come, and the beauty of Saudi Arabia's sunset will remain in the world forever.