Ping Pong Episode 10 Recap
> Ping Pong Recap
The special team members were eager to practice and used some unauthorized time in the table tennis hall. Fu Chuan Zhi noticed their practice and mildly cautioned them to balance playing well with eating properly. Meanwhile, in the locker room, Ma Chuan was overheard by Mr. Zheng telling his teammates that Liu Shi had been illicitly selling world champion autographed paddles for hundreds of yuan each, causing a stir in the national team.
Separately, Xu Tan and Liu Shi were practicing. Xu Tan observed that Liu Shi consistently lost points in close areas, especially against sudden drop shots. He advised Liu Shi to anticipate his opponent's movements more effectively, suggesting this foresight could turn a weakness into an offensive advantage. Liu Shi acknowledged that Assistant Coach Qin Zhen had given similar advice and complimented Xu Tan, saying he sounded like a coach and wondering if Xu Tan figured this out on his own.
Xu Tan explained he enjoyed analyzing these things and considered it his unique trait. Xu Tan then asked if Liu Shi had ever thought about attacking. Liu Shi replied that his provincial coach had never taught him attacking techniques, and he didn't see an opportunity to learn now, especially since their special team was leaving soon, with little hope of returning. Xu Tan reassured him that with his talent, things might not be as bleak as he thought.
Concurrently, Yu Kenan was still training with the football team. His coach, Teng Biao, pointed out his overeagerness, telling him not to rush every ball but to observe the opponent's rhythm and strike at the precise moment. Teng Biao stressed that this difference was the "gap" between Yu Kenan and Fu Jing Chun.
After this deep and heartfelt reminder from Teng Biao, Yu Kenan finally managed to intercept a ball during a football match, earning his way back to his beloved table tennis court. Back at the table tennis hall, Mr. Zheng confronted the special team. He announced that their training partner period was essentially over and they should prepare to leave.
When a special team member challenged him, asking about the difference between them and the Second team, Mr. Zheng disparaged the special team, emphasizing the national team's need for systematic training, discipline, and execution for victory. When the special team defended their commitment and mentioned Liu Shi's skill, Mr. Zheng directly accused Liu Shi of selling autographed world champion paddles.
Xu Tan tried to interject, mentioning Liu Shi's granny, but Mr. Zheng quickly silenced him, insisting that some members were exploiting their position for personal gain and demanding strict action. Coach Lei Cheng intervened, highlighting the special team's generally good performance and advocating for a second chance, rather than dismissing them all for the actions of a few.
Liu Shi stepped forward, taking sole responsibility for selling the paddles and offering to accept any punishment, as long as his teammates were spared. Fu Chuan Zhi agreed that the special team's current setup was unsustainable and announced its immediate cancellation.
However, he then revealed a new opportunity: members of the former special team could undergo a selection process, and those who ranked in the top ten of the World Junior Table Tennis Championships Selection in two weeks would be allowed to join the Second team as official members. This shocking announcement sparked renewed determination among the players. Fu Chuan Zhi also requested that from now on, all players should stand together, rather than separately.
A narrator clarified that the World Junior Table Tennis Championships, held since 2003, was a crucial competition alongside the World Championships, World Cup, and Olympics, and this year's important task fell to both the Second team and the special training partner team. As the selection approached, Mr. Zheng spoke to Fu Jingchun, instructing him to specifically target Yu Kenan, Liu Shi, Zhai Jia Chen, and Xu Nuo in the upcoming matches.
He acknowledged Yu Kenan's skill despite his recent absence from table tennis training, and Liu Shi's diligent practice, while reminding Fu Jingchun to avoid his old mistakes and control the match rhythm, especially against chop players. That night, Liu Shi used a public phone to call his granny, checking if she had received the money and reassuring her about his well-being in Beijing with its heating. His loud conversation, however, annoyed Ma Chuan, who reprimanded him for disturbing others' sleep.
Liu Shi apologized, promising to be quieter in the future. Xu Tan, witnessing the scene, generously offered Liu Shi his mobile phone for future calls, acknowledging the convenience. They wished each other good luck for their matches the next day. Teng Biao helped Yu Kenan tidy his messy room, jokingly comparing it to a "dog kennel" and contrasting his disorganization with Fu Jingchun's strict self-discipline.
Yu Kenan, irritated, blamed Teng Biao for making him play football, leaving no time to clean. Teng Biao retorted that if Yu Kenan were truly strict with himself, he wouldn't have been sent to football, accusing him of deflecting responsibility just like his father, who always blamed others for his losses. Yu Kenan emphatically rejected the comparison, promising to secure his spot in the World Junior Championships. Teng Biao approved of his confidence but reminded him to honor his commitments.
Yu Kenan assured him he remembered his words, unlike his father. Meanwhile, Lei Cheng visited Xu Tan, praising his recent hard work and noting his eighth-place ranking was his best performance since joining the Second team, indicating their targeted training was yielding results. He encouraged Xu Tan to thoroughly prepare for his opponents, play freely, showcase his unique style, and avoid carrying any mental burden for the final day of selections. Xu Tan acknowledged his master's advice.
On the final day of the selection, Yu Kenan arrived late, only to discover his match paddle was missing. Despite searching his room, he couldn't find it, forcing him to use his unfamiliar training paddle. This incident severely affected his focus, leading him to lose the first game against Liu Shi. His teammates tried to encourage him, but Yu Kenan, frustrated, blamed his "stupid paddle" for his poor performance and wanted to go look for his main paddle.
Teng Biao stopped him, questioning the real importance of the paddles in that moment. He urged Yu Kenan to analyze the issues exposed in his matches, rather than focusing on the lost game. Teng Biao, understanding Yu Kenan's past successes, emphasized the importance of learning to cope with defeat. Despite his initial frustration, Yu Kenan took Teng Biao's words to heart.
During his next game against Liu Shi, he calmed his mind, applied the "slow down" advice, stepped back to better observe Liu Shi's chop shots, and accurately predicted their direction and spin, gaining several points. However, Liu Shi, equally sharp, adapted his strategy, anticipating Yu Kenan's short returns and launching counter-attacks, ultimately winning the match. Yu Kenan's loss, with 32 points against Fu Jing Chun's 36, meant he would not qualify for the World Junior Championships.
Next, Xu Tan faced Liu Shi. In the first game, Xu Tan struggled, consistently losing points while attempting to follow Lei Cheng's offensive "first three strokes" strategy. Recalling Liu Shi's earlier encouragement that his original defensive style was effective and didn't need forced change, Xu Tan shifted his grip and abandoned the aggressive "first three strokes," reverting to his most familiar defensive playing style.
The commentators noted Xu Tan's change in tactics, observing that both players were now defensively waiting for the other's mistake, a style that seemed disadvantageous for Xu Tan given Liu Shi's potent chop shot. Suddenly, Liu Shi launched his signature chop, which Xu Tan expertly countered with a powerful forehand smash, winning the point and ultimately the match. Everyone realized Xu Tan had patiently set the stage, waiting for this crucial moment.
Liu Shi, though defeated, acknowledged Xu Tan's "incredible" performance, particularly in the final two games, and confirmed Xu Tan had given his all. Despite Xu Tan's victory, Lei Cheng seemed dejected and left.
Xu Tan was concerned about his coach's mood, guessing Lei Cheng knew about his secret training with Liu Shi and was upset that Xu Tan hadn't fully adopted his prescribed techniques, especially the "first three strokes," which Xu Tan found awkward and counter to his natural defensive strength. Liu Shi advised Xu Tan to openly communicate his thoughts to Lei Cheng, emphasizing that defense was Xu Tan's true strength.
Later, Xu Tan found Yu Kenan sitting in the living room, looking disheartened. Xu Tan tried to engage him by mentioning Guan Wei's departure from the national team, suggesting he wouldn't return. Yu Kenan, however, showed no interest, arguing that there was no point staying without achieving results. He vehemently stated he wasn't there to make friends and was solely focused on becoming a world champion, regretting the year he lost when he was demoted.
Xu Tan tried to reason with him, asserting that friends could offer support during tough times. Yu Kenan retorted by revealing that Jia Yu was his first friend in the national team, and he asked Xu Tan if he knew what Jia Yu had done to him, implying a deep betrayal that made him wary of friendships.
