With the 2024 Paris Olympics approaching, the preparation of the Chinese table tennis team has attracted widespread attention. According to the Olympic points selection rules, the current top three players in men's singles are Wang Chuqin, Fan Zhendong and Ma Long. However, because each country can only send two players to participate in the singles, Wang Chuqin and Fan Zhendong were selected in the end, making two-time Olympic gold medalist Ma Long regrettably unqualified.
As soon as this decision was announced, it caused widespread controversy and became a hot topic. Although Ma Long's points are not as good as those of Wang Chuqin and Fan Zhendong, his game experience and consistent performance are far superior to them. In particular, Ma Long's competitive form and mental quality in the recent World Series have proved that he is still a strong contender for gold.
In contrast, Wang Chuqin is indeed worthy of Olympic qualification because of his world No. 1 ranking and recent excellent results. But although Fan Zhendong is talented and physical, he is often affected by mood swings and external interference, which is especially fatal on a big stage like the Olympics.
Not only did Malone show his composure and experience, but he also recently completed a stunning comeback in the World Cup final, showing his hardness and ability to perform under pressure. On the other hand, Fan Zhendong's instability in major matches may become a weakness for the Chinese team.
Although Liu Guoliang made the decision according to the selection method, given the current form of the athletes and the importance of the Olympics, more attention should be paid to strength and experience. Replacing Fan Zhendong with Ma Long may be a safer choice.