The tenacity behind the big upset
The 2024 World Table Tennis Championships will undoubtedly go down in history. In the quadrennial top-level event, an unknown Chinese player Lin Gaoyuan created an incredible upset, beating top seed Wang Chuqin and defending champion Ma Long to win the men's singles title. This is not only the biggest breakthrough in Lin Gaoyuan's personal career, but also one of the most exciting upsets in the table tennis world in recent years.
Lin's road to the title was not without its challenges. As a player ranked around 30th, he didn't get much attention before the fight. But in the first round, he broke everyone's imagination and eliminated top seed Wang Chuqin with an overall score of 4-2. This is undoubtedly a bombshell, and it is shocking that Wang Chuqin, as a highly regarded table tennis star in the world rankings, was born by a newcomer in his best event. Lin didn't stop there, beating multiple seeded players in quick succession to reach the finals.
In the final, Lin Gaoyuan's opponent was defending champion Ma Long. As a leading figure in the Chinese table tennis world, Ma Long is undoubtedly the most optimistic champion favorite. Lin Gaoyuan showed a breathtaking performance in this matchup. His serve spin was varied and his attacking tactics were extremely threatening, forcing Malone into a corner. Lin Gaoyuan defeated Ma Long with an aggregate score of 4-2 and won the world championship.
On this championship night, the atmosphere was undoubtedly at its climax. At the moment of victory, Lin Gaoyuan showed unprecedented excitement. He raised his arms, shouted loudly, and even waved his racket on the sidelines in celebration. This overly ostentatious celebration has caused a lot of controversy and criticism. Some senior experts believe that Lin Gaoyuan, as a new champion, behaved unsportsmanlike and lacked respect from opponents and spectators when he celebrated.
There are also people who defend Lin Gaoyuan's actions. They believe that it is not easy for Lin Gaoyuan to create such an incredible upset. As an obscure player, he has put in unimaginable hard work to finally shine on the world stage. Therefore, it is reasonable to be overexcited and emotionally ventive for a while. For Lin Gaoyuan, the weight of this honor is so heavy.
Lin Gaoyuan's upset victory and the subsequent arrogant celebration have attracted widespread attention and discussion. This not only reflects the uncertainty and potential of unpopular sports competitions, but also reflects the high expectations of the contemporary sports world for the quality and professional ethics of athletes. On the one hand, we are eager to see more indomitable players like Lin Gaoyuan, writing legends with tenacious struggle; On the other hand, we also hope that athletes can treat victory in a more humble and courteous way, which is not only a respect for sportsmanship, but also a test of self-cultivation.
Tenacious struggle finally won the world championship
In order to create such a big upset that shocked the table tennis world, Lin Gao was far from a fluke. On the contrary, he has gone through a difficult journey that is unimaginable to ordinary people. From an unknown youngster to a world champion step by step, Lin Gaoyuan has paid countless sweat and hard work. It is this tenacious and hard-working quality that allowed him to finally defeat many strong enemies and reach the top of the world.
Looking back on Lin Gaoyuan's table tennis career, he has shown extraordinary talent since he was a child. But unlike other talented players, he hasn't been taken seriously and nurtured enough. On the contrary, Lin Gaoyuan has long been considered a "potential stock", and rarely got the opportunity to participate in important competitions in his youth. This neglected situation can be a predictable blow to a young athlete.
But Lin Gaoyuan didn't give up. He gritted his teeth and persevered, working hard step by step in obscurity. He overcame many difficulties and put a lot of effort into basic training. Serves, returns, switching techniques, and pace movements, Lin Gaoyuan has refined every detail until they have been fully mastered and internalized into his own unique style. It is this persistent love for table tennis that has allowed him to grow in the face of adversity.
Until 2024, Lin Gaoyuan finally ushered in a turning point in his career. In a minor event, he defeated several top-ranked competitors in a row to earn himself a place in the World Series. At the subsequent World Championships, Lin Gaoyuan was even more sensational, defeating top seed Wang Chuqin and defending champion Ma Long to win the title. For Lin Gaoyuan, this championship is the best interpretation and reward for years of hard work.
At the moment of the decisive victory over Ma Long, Lin Gaoyuan's excitement can be imagined. As an underrated youngster, he finally made it to the top with his boxing tenacity. This kind of joy is difficult for ordinary people to experience. Lin Gaoyuan's arrogant celebration at the scene is not difficult to understand. It is a vent for years of hardship, an affirmation of self and a cry for dreams.
Reflections on sportsmanship
Although Lin Gaoyuan's big upset victory was a sports miracle, his arrogant celebration after the game caused a lot of controversy and criticism. Some senior experts believe that as a new champion, Lin Gaoyuan's celebration was overly flamboyant and lacked sportsmanship, as well as the basic respect of opponents and spectators.
Sportsmanship has always been a core value valued in the world of sports. It not only requires athletes to compete fairly and fight tenaciously on the field, but also requires them to maintain a humble and courteous character when they win. A good athlete should not be complacent and empty of everything because of a momentary victory. Instead, they should approach success with a more humble attitude and always have an open heart to learn.
Sportsmanship is a test of the overall quality of athletes. It not only tests the technical and tactical level of athletes, but also requires them to have a noble spiritual realm. At this level, there are undoubtedly some flaws in the way Lin Gaoyuan celebrates. He raised his arms, shouted loudly, and waved his racket, which was too ostentatious to give people the impression of conceit and arrogance, which was somewhat different from the requirements of sportsmanship.
When we judge Lin Gaoyuan, we should also take into account his special situation. As a young player who has been neglected for a long time, Lin Gaoyuan finally shined on the world stage with unimaginable tenacious struggle. For him, the weight of this honor is so heavy. It is reasonable to be overexcited and emotionally ventive for a while. We should not be too demanding, but more understanding and tolerant.
We also need to reflect on whether the current sports world is too strict about the quality of athletes. We expect athletes to be able to give their best on the field and maintain a detached composure when they win, which is understandably the psychological pressure on young athletes. Perhaps we should give athletes more room to be tolerant and allow them to unleash their joyful emotions within reason.
Although sportsmanship is an eternal pursuit, when we ask athletes, we must also give full understanding and respect to each person and matter. It is only in inclusion that noble sportsmanship can be truly cultivated.
Throughout the whole process of Lin Gaoyuan creating a big upset to win the championship, it is not difficult for us to find that tenacious struggle is a main line running through it. From an unknown young player to finally reaching the top of the world, Lin Gaoyuan wrote a legend with his perseverance. This tenacious and hardworking quality is not only the key to his success, but also a valuable virtue that we should learn and pass on.
At the same time, Lin Gaoyuan's arrogant celebration after the game triggered people's in-depth thinking about sportsmanship. As an elite athlete, what kind of spiritual realm should you have? Is it humble and polite, or can it release joy in moderation? This is indeed a topic worth exploring. We should all give athletes full understanding and respect, and guide and nurture them with an inclusive mindset.