The 2024 Bangkok Star Challenge will enter the final of the men's singles, with national table tennis player Lin Gaoyuan facing Japanese table tennis player Tomokazu Zhangmoto.
It's a high-profile game. If Lin Gaoyuan loses to Tomokazu Zhangmoto, then Japanese table tennis will win the five championships of this event, and Tomokazu Zhangmoto will become the triple crown. This is not the first time that Japanese table tennis has won five championships.
At the WTT Tunisia Regular Challenge held at the end of June, Japanese table tennis won five championships, and Tomokazu Zhang achieved the triple crown.
Lin Gaoyuan naturally wanted to find a way to defeat Tomokazu Zhang and prevent Japanese table tennis from winning five championships in a row.
In addition, Lin Gaoyuan and Zhang Benzhihe met in the men's singles finals twice before, and they both lost to Zhang Benzhihe. This caused Lin Gaoyuan's reputation to be damaged and he was under heavy pressure.
In the men's singles final of the ITTF Tour Finals in December 2018, Lin Gaoyuan lost 1-4 to Tomokazu Zhang and missed the championship. In the men's singles final of the WTT Budapest Championships in July 2022, Lin Gaoyuan lost to Tomokazu Zhang again and was once again runner-up. This time the loss was even more humiliating. When Lin Gaoyuan won three games first, he was beaten four games in a row by Zhang Benzhihe, staged a super reversal, and won the championship. Lin Gaoyuan's psychological quality is not too hard, which was vividly shown in this game.
This one lost even worse! Lin Gaoyuan lost 0-4 to Tomokazu Zhang and missed the defending men's singles championship.
In the first game, Tomokazu Zhang entered the state very quickly and made a 5:1 start. Lin Gaoyuan scored 2 points in a row to narrow the difference. Tomokazu Zhang scored 6 points in a row and won the first game 11-3. Zhang Benzhihe roared when he scored, overpowering Lin Gaoyuan in momentum.
In the second game, Tomokazu Zhang made a 3:1 start. Lin Gaoyuan scored 2 points in a row to tie the score. Tomokazu Zhang scored three points in a row to take a 6-3 lead. Tomokazu shouted again. Tomokazu Zhang opened the gap with 8:4. Lin Gaoyuan finally got a feel for it, and scored 3 points in a row, and the difference was only 1 point. Both sides scored 1 point each, and the score came to 9:8. Tomokazu Zhang scored 2 points in a row and won another game 11:8. Zhang Benzhihe is very vigorous. Lin Gaoyuan has not yet entered the state.
In the third game, Tomokazu Zhang made a 6:0 start. Lin Gaoyuan hadn't found his senses yet. Lin Gaoyuan chased 3 points, and Zhang Benzhihe called a timeout. In the game again, Lin Gaoyuan scored another 3 points and chased the score to 6 draws. It's a pity that Lin Gaoyuan suddenly turned off the fire again. Tomokazu Zhang scored 5 points in a row and won the third game 11-6.
Lin Gaoyuan's whole person was wilted, without any vitality, and he didn't know what was going on. Haven't you overcome your demons yet, and you don't know how to play when you meet Tomokazu Zhangmoto?
In the fourth game, Lin Gaoyuan took a 4:2 lead and was chased by Zhang Benzhihe by 2 points. Lin Gaoyuan called a timeout. However, Tomokazu Zhang scored another 1 point and overtook the score. Lin Gaoyuan led Zhang Benzhihe again 8:7. Tomokazu Zhang scored 3 points in a row to get the match point. Tomokazu Zhang seized the opportunity and won the game 11-9.
In the end, Tomokazu Zhang won 4-0 against Lin Gaoyuan, won the men's singles championship, and achieved the triple crown. Japanese table tennis won five championships and became the biggest winner.
Lin Gaoyuan lost to Zhang Benzhihe again, aggrieved.