Ping Pong Episode 11 Recap
> Ping Pong Recap
When Xu Tan questioned Yu Kenan's reluctance to form friendships, suggesting that friends could offer support during difficult times, Yu Kenan revealed the painful truth about his first friend in the national team, Jia Yu. He recounted how Jia Yu, feigning distress by drinking water from a liquor bottle, invited him to drink on the eve of a crucial match. Yu Kenan, wanting to comfort his friend, agreed to drink with him, not realizing it was a setup.
The following day, Yu Kenan arrived late for his match, hoping Jia Yu would explain. Instead, Jia Yu blamed Yu Kenan for initiating the drinking and missing the game due to his own fault. Realizing Jia Yu's betrayal, Yu Kenan chose not to expose the truth, believing it wouldn't change anything and preferring to fight his way back into the national team on his own merits. He hit Jia Yu in frustration.
Yu Kenan stated he didn't care about others' misunderstandings, even though he knew everyone thought he hit Jia Yu because he missed the game and couldn't get into the First team. However, Xu Tan insisted he cared about Yu Kenan as a friend. Yu Kenan then confided that Jia Yu had once said the very same words to him, leaving him deeply hurt and unwilling to trust anyone again.
Meanwhile, Liu Shi, watching a video of Qin Zhen playing against a Korean opponent, Zheng Ren He, was captivated by Qin Zhen's exceptional chop shot technique and forehand attack. Overwhelmed with admiration, Liu Shi approached Mr. Qin, excitedly asking him to be his master, though Mr. Qin brusquely told him to consult Mr. Lei if he had issues. Later, Mr. Lei noticed Xu Tan’s subdued mood despite his recent victory.
Xu Tan confessed that he had secretly practiced with Liu Shi. Mr. Lei wasn't angry; on the contrary, he was proud that Xu Tan had overcome Liu Shi, seeing it as proof of his capability. He emphasized the need for 100% trust between them to achieve their shared goals, including advancing to the First team and setting even higher aspirations.
Elsewhere, Teng Biao took a call from Yu Ge, Yu Kenan's father, who was furious that Yu Kenan had placed second in the World Junior Championship and thus failed to secure a spot in the national team, especially after hearing about his lost main paddle. Yu Ge angrily demanded to know if it was Yu Kenan or his main paddle that was competing.
Teng Biao tried to calm him, saying there would be other opportunities and that learning a lesson from this experience was more important. Two weeks later, as the special training partner team's period was nearing its end, Fu Chuan Zhi announced a half-day break for everyone to watch Fu Jingchun's World Junior Championship final. During the break, Ma Chuan complained to Yu Kenan about Xu Tan’s reluctance to share strategies for dealing with chop shots.
Ma Chuan then brought up Yu Kenan's missing main paddle, recalling that he had seen Liu Shi in Yu Kenan's room, implying Liu Shi might have taken it. Impulsively, Yu Kenan confronted Liu Shi, who was watching the final. Liu Shi denied stealing the paddle, explaining he had only admired the "Hurricane King" paddle for its exceptional quality, but would never steal. Other special team members defended Liu Shi, while a national team player provoked the special team.
The argument quickly escalated into a physical altercation between the two teams, during which a trophy was knocked over and shattered. Coaches Fu Chuan Zhi, Zheng Hao, and Lei Cheng arrived to investigate. A national team player immediately pointed fingers at Yu Kenan. Yu Kenan was about to explain when Xu Tan stepped forward and claimed responsibility, stating he had accidentally bumped into the trophy.
Yu Kenan, knowing that another disciplinary action could lead to his permanent expulsion, kept quiet as Xu Tan insisted it was his fault. Fu Chuan Zhi sternly lectured both teams about the importance of unity and representing the country, ordering Xu Tan and Yu Kenan to write self-reflection reports and await the coaching team's decision.
Later that night, while tidying his bed, Yu Kenan discovered his main paddle underneath it, filling him with profound guilt for having wrongly accused Liu Shi. Meanwhile, the coaching team convened to discuss the incident. Teng Biao defended Yu Kenan, stating it was merely an accident and that Yu Kenan was not malicious, having only training on his mind.
Zheng Hao, however, seized the opportunity to advocate for severe punishment, emphasizing adherence to team rules and the need to uphold national honor. At that moment, Mr. Wang, the coach of the women's First team, arrived, seeking a male training partner from the Second team who possessed exceptional skills. Teng Biao "recommended" Fu Jingchun, a strong seeded player, knowing Zheng Hao would object to his star player being relegated to a training partner role.
Indeed, Zheng Hao vehemently opposed it, citing Fu Jingchun’s demanding schedule and status as a seeded player. Fu Chuan Zhi supported Zheng Hao’s argument. Mr. Wang then asked for other suggestions, and Teng Biao, feigning reluctance, proposed Yu Kenan. Zheng Hao, eager to see Yu Kenan punished, quickly agreed. Mr. Wang was pleased to learn Yu Kenan specialized in backhand, a skill her team needed.
Although Teng Biao continued to pretend to object, it was a calculated move to ensure Yu Kenan received the relatively lighter punishment of becoming a training partner for the women's team, rather than a more severe one, while also satisfying Zheng Hao. Mr. Wang vowed to "educate" the seemingly arrogant Yu Kenan.
Mr. Lei then attempted to recommend Xu Tan for a training partner position, but Mr. Wang politely declined, explaining that her team only required one and that Xu Tan's skills were not yet what she was looking for. Later, Mr. Lei expressed his frustration to Fu Chuan Zhi about Zheng Hao's attitude. Fu Chuan Zhi explained that Xu Tan, a quiet individual, had deliberately taken the blame to save Yu Kenan from being expelled.
He also acknowledged Teng Biao's clever strategy in securing a more lenient punishment for Yu Kenan. Fu Chuan Zhi believed Xu Tan needed a period of personal growth and decided to remove him from the training hall for a while, confident it would ultimately benefit him. When Teng Biao presented Yu Kenan with the signed order to become a training partner for the women's team, Yu Kenan protested vehemently. Teng Biao offered to let him switch places with Xu Tan.
Upon learning that Xu Tan was being sent to the old storehouse to help the old keeper move equipment, Yu Kenan reluctantly accepted his assignment, realizing Xu Tan had been given a much tougher penalty. Teng Biao then told Yu Kenan that he knew in his heart whether he was truly to blame for the trophy incident. Mr. Lei visited Xu Tan, who was packing, and consoled him.
He assured Xu Tan that Fu Chuan Zhi's decision had a deeper purpose and advised him to approach his punishment with seriousness. He encouraged Xu Tan to find time to practice, even if he couldn't access a table, and to perform well to expedite his return to the team. Xu Tan arrived at the old storehouse, asking for "Mr. He." The old warehouse keeper, seemingly hard of hearing, informed him there was no Mr. He there.
After hearing Xu Tan was sent by Fu Chuan Zhi, the old man remarked with a hint of disdain that "that old man is still alive." He then instructed Xu Tan to sort through "useless" and "old" equipment, deliberately making the task difficult and forcing Xu Tan to move heavy items with his bare hands. The old man easily lifted a heavy barbell with one hand, demonstrating surprising strength.
