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The dust of the Asian Championships has settled, the glory and challenges of national table tennis coexist, and behind the wonderful duels, there are countless fans and industry insiders who have deep thinking about the deep logic of sports competition.
When Japan players shine on the Asian stage, the national table tennis women's team regrets missing out on the crown, which not only raises questions about the event arrangement, but also stimulates extensive discussions about athlete status management, event balance and future layout.
What's the balance?
The end of the Asian Championships did not bring the expected perfect ending, but instead became the starting point of a new topic.
Media and fans have been spotting on the back-to-back events – the seamless schedule between the WTT commercial event and the Asian Championships.
This arrangement, on the one hand, ensures the continuous heat of the competition, but on the other hand, it also invisibly puts huge pressure on the athletes.
Especially when Japan's early exit from the Beijing Grand Slam gave them more valuable preparation time and finally shined at the Asian Championships, this phenomenon forced people to re-examine the delicate relationship between the tournaments.
The strong rise of the Japan women's group and the amazing performance of Tomokazu Zhang undoubtedly sounded the alarm for national table tennis.
How to maintain the condition in the dense schedule, how to find a balance between commercial events and national honors, has become a difficult problem for all table tennis people.
It has been suggested that perhaps the interval between commercial and national events should be more reasonable, giving athletes enough time to recover and adjust, rather than blindly pursuing the eyeball effect of commercialization.
Whose fault is it that the girl group lost?
The failure of the Asian Championships of the national table tennis women's team, especially Sun Yingsha, Chen Xingtong, and Wang Yidi, the three powerful players, failed to win the championship, which made countless fans sigh.
Wang Manyu's absence is seen by many as a key factor in the failure of the girl group to reach the top.
Indeed, as a fierce player who has repeatedly achieved miracles on the international stage, Wang Manyu's stability in foreign battles is impeccable, and her style of play is widely regarded as effective in restraining Japan players.
However, there is never an absolute "what if" in the sports arena, and behind every outcome is the result of a myriad of intertwined factors.
Sun Yingsha, a young player with high hopes, failed to perform at her best in the women's team final.
Not only was she reversed by Zhang Benmei and in key matches, but her overall form was far less sharp than when she was in the Beijing Grand Slam.
The tight schedule is undoubtedly a big reason, from Beijing to the Asian arena, leaving little respite for the players.
In addition, for relatively unfamiliar opponents such as North Korea, the female national table tennis players also seem to be unprepared, and this strangeness affects their performance to a certain extent.
Wang Manyu's absence is both a regret and an opportunity
Wang Manyu's absence made fans deeply regretful, but it also triggered a deep thought: Does the participation mode of national table tennis need to be adjusted? For a long time, national table tennis players have been accustomed to working hand in hand to face every challenge together.
However, with such a packed schedule, it is clear that this model has been put to great test.
As a result, some people suggested that perhaps letting core players such as Wang Manyu and Sun Yingsha compete separately can not only reduce their physical and psychological burden, but also give other team members more opportunities to exercise and grow.
In fact, this attempt has already begun to bear fruit.
In the following competitions, Wang Manyu and Sun Yingsha took turns to play, which not only ensured the competitiveness of the team, but also allowed both of them to have enough time to rest.
While splitting the competition means that in some competitions you won't see the duo coming together, it's certainly a more scientific arrangement in the long run.
After all, for top athletes, staying in top shape is far more important than a momentary victory.
Adjust the schedule, challenges and opportunities coexist
However, the schedule adjustment was not an easy task.
The frequent holding of WTT commercial events has provided more stages for national table tennis players, but at the same time, their schedules are full.
Competing at two or more times a month can be a tough test for any athlete.
How to maintain physical fitness and state stability in such an environment has become a problem that every national table tennis player must face.
Adjusting the schedule is difficult, but it is imperative.
On the one hand, a reasonable schedule helps athletes perform better; On the other hand, it also provides more room for the coaching staff to make more adjustments, allowing them to formulate more precise tactical arrangements according to the characteristics of different matches and the strength of the opponent.
Of course, there are also a series of knock-on effects from the schedule adjustments.
For example, the change in rankings and points is one of the most significant.
When competing together, national table tennis players are often able to get more points and higher rankings by virtue of their collective advantages; Competing separately may lead to changes in individual rankings and even affect the overall competitiveness of the team.
But as the old saying goes, "If you lose your horse, you won't know if you're blessed."
"Playing separately may temporarily drop some players' rankings, but it will also give other players more opportunities to show what they are capable of, which will give them more opportunities in future competitions.
Looking forward to the future, a new chapter in personnel adjustment
In the two championships at the end of October and the beginning of November, we saw the firm determination and flexible response of the national table tennis coaching staff to personnel adjustments.
Wang Manyu's participation and Sun Yingsha's rest and adjustment have not only been widely recognized and supported by fans, but also brought new vitality and hope to the team.
This attempt is not only a consideration of the athlete's individual state, but also the end of the Shenzhen Asian Championships for the long-term development of the entire team.
The big guy began to wonder, is there something wrong with this game arrangement? You see, the WTT competition is being held right next to the Asian Championships, and the athletes have just moved from one fierce battle to another, and they haven't even breathed their breath.
On the Japan side, the women's team and the Beijing Grand Slam said goodbye early, but turned their heads at the Asian Championships as if they were hanging, and it seemed that our national table tennis girls were a little powerless.
This matter makes everyone feel that the commercial competition has to be lively, but it can't be patronized and disrupt the rhythm of the national team's preparation.
How to adjust the schedule, so that the athletes can not only play the game, but also have enough time to recover and adjust their state, this is the real responsibility for the athletes and the fairness of the game.