Ping Pong Episode 15 Recap
> Ping Pong Recap
Fu Chuanzhi spoke earnestly with Qin Zhen, acknowledging Qin Zhen's unyielding spirit and deep connection to the national Ping Pong team. Fu Chuanzhi reminded him that his career as a player was only one part of his journey, and now, as a coach, he had the crucial responsibility to pass on his experiences, lessons, and even his regrets to the next generation of players. Accepting this mantle, Qin Zhen agreed to become Liu Shi's coach.
Liu Shi, previously lacking a dedicated coach, was overjoyed to finally have one. Qin Zhen quickly pointed out that despite Liu Shi's decent chopping technique, his fundamental skills were lacking, and he needed to train from the basics. Qin Zhen advised Liu Shi to switch his paddle's rubber from long pips to short pips, explaining that short pips offers greater elasticity and stronger anti-spin ability, enabling a more aggressive chop-and-attack style with faster ball speed and stronger attacking power.
He promised to develop a detailed training plan for Liu Shi. During a practice session in the old storage room, Xu Tan expressed frustration, feeling unadapted to his current playing style and struggling to regain confidence. His training with Yu Kenan had certainly enhanced his skills, but his team ranking remained largely unchanged. Yu Kenan, observing Xu Tan, commented on his lack of enthusiasm, urging him to be more expressive.
Objectively, Yu Kenan was not optimistic about Xu Tan's current form, and although Teng Biao outwardly disagreed, he harbored significant private concerns. Meanwhile, the misunderstanding surrounding the chocolates continued to unfold. Yu Kenan encountered Zhang Caiwei and Xiao Jun in an elevator and awkwardly tried to ask about the chocolate Fatty had delivered to Zhang Caiwei. However, Zhang Caiwei quickly pulled Xiao Jun away before Yu Kenan could finish his question, leaving him perplexed.
Back in their dorm, Xiao Jun pressed Zhang Caiwei about her feelings for Yu Kenan, to which Zhang Caiwei shyly confessed to "a little" interest. Separately, Xu Tan received an excited phone call from Lei Lei, who mentioned the chocolate he sent her, finding "something weird inside." Xu Tan denied putting anything by mistake.
Lei Lei admitted it was her first such gift but said she couldn't use it now, jokingly suggesting she might return it or even give it to her father. Xu Tan quickly rejected these ideas, urging her to simply discard it if she didn't like it. Lei Lei then ended the call, citing unfinished homework. With the promotion and relegation competition just two weeks away, Mr. Zheng gathered the team to announce the rules for the upcoming internal selection round-robin.
This pre-competition was critical, as the top eight players from the second team would qualify to compete against the bottom four from the first team, with only four spots available to join the first team. Mr. Zheng encouraged capable players to seize the opportunity and others to use it to assess their own standings. Before delving into the rules, Coach Gong provided a brief history of Ping Pong balls, from champagne corks to modern 40mm balls.
Mr. Zheng then explained that these historical balls would serve as "chips" for a betting system. The competition would be a 5-point scale, where the first to reach five points wins. Different balls had varying point values, with the oldest corks being worth the most, and corks specifically reserved for coaches. Mr. Fu Chuanzhi clarified that this system was designed to engage coaches and help both players and coaches better understand each other's strengths and weaknesses.
Players could bet their points on themselves or their opponents, with the player who held more points gaining the advantage of an additional serve. To prevent foul play, betting would close once opponents were announced. The top eight players with the highest chip totals would directly qualify for the promotion and relegation competition. Liu Shi, seeking a strategic edge, asked Xu Tan to help him apply "Tian Ji's strategy for horse racing" to maximize his betting returns.
Xu Tan, drawing on his practice experience with the Second Team, calculated winning rates for Liu Shi against various opponents. Liu Shi was pleased with the projections, but noticed Xu Tan had placed very few points on himself. Xu Tan replied that his personal points were less important than making it into the top eight, affirming that he would do his best. Liu Shi, in turn, encouraged him to believe in himself.
Before the selection matches, Teng Biao presented Yu Kenan with a new paddle, a gift from his father, complete with a cherished sponge. Yu Kenan, though feigning disinterest, accepted it, and Teng Biao offered to glue the paddle for him. Separately, Yu Kenan and Fu Jingchun exchanged good luck wishes, with Yu Kenan conceding the symbolic "center table" to Fu Jingchun for now, promising they would meet in the First Team.
Elsewhere, Mr. Zheng coached Fu Jingchun on his serves, but Fu Jingchun experienced cramps and was sent to rest. On the day of the competition, Xu Tan found himself facing Fu Jingchun in his first match. Feeling a surge of confidence after Lei Cheng, Teng Biao, and even Yu Kenan placed bets on him, with Yu Kenan specifically adding 80 points to give Xu Tan an extra serve advantage, Xu Tan played with newfound self-assurance.
During a break, Qin Zhen checked on Liu Shi, who was still adjusting to his new short pips. Liu Shi expressed his profound happiness at finally having a coach to provide guidance and care during matches. Fu Jingchun, having dismissed his minor sprain as inconsequential earlier, continued to play. However, the intense exertion exacerbated his ankle pain, leading to his defeat against Yu Kenan. Immediately after the match, Fu Jingchun collapsed on the court.
A doctor examined him and explained to Mr. Zheng that Fu Jingchun had a fractured piece of cartilage in his ankle that had moved out of the joint. While usually benign for ordinary people, for an athlete, there was a small but critical risk that if the fragment moved into the joint, it could cause irreversible damage. The doctor recommended surgery but noted it would mean missing the upcoming promotion and relegation competition.
Concerned about opponents exploiting this weakness, Mr. Zheng requested the doctor keep the diagnosis confidential. The doctor agreed to prescribe medication but urged Mr. Zheng to encourage Fu Jingchun to make a decision quickly. When Fu Jingchun later asked Mr. Zheng about his condition, Mr. Zheng downplayed it, calling it a serious but normal sprain that wouldn't affect the competition, a reassurance Fu Jingchun readily believed.
The internal selection competition concluded with Xu Tan qualifying for the top eight, securing a substantial points advantage. Liu Shi, under Qin Zhen's diligent coaching, achieved significant progress and excellent results. After the matches, Fu Jingchun complimented Yu Kenan's impressive performance, lamenting that they couldn't have a better game, to which Yu Kenan reiterated his hope to see him in the First Team.
The morning after the internal selection, Liu Shi, bright and early, knocked on Qin Zhen's door, rousing his hungover coach for their morning jog. Liu Shi highlighted the importance of the promotion and relegation competition for both of them and made a "small request" that Qin Zhen abstain from drinking until after the competition, promising to drink with him then.
Qin Zhen initially grumbled about his disciple trying to control him, but Liu Shi playfully threatened to involve Mr. Fu Chuanzhi if he wouldn't comply. Qin Zhen, finally giving in, jokingly remarked on the role reversal, stating that Liu Shi was "managing me now." This interaction solidified their evolving bond of mutual support.
