Ping Pong Episode 19 Recap
> Ping Pong Recap
The International Table Tennis Federation announced new rules for team matches, requiring single players to also manage doubles. This meant coaches had to balance both singles and doubles training, aiming for comprehensive development among the main players, as the doubles point in the third game became crucial. Based on current assessments, Ye Zhen Xin was considered most suitable for doubles, with Leng Yi, Ma Yu Yang, and new talent Fu Jingchun also in consideration.
Additionally, Xia Ke had returned to the team and should not be overlooked. Fu Jingchun, concerned about a recurring ankle sprain, asked Coach Zheng if he could postpone his training plan for two days. However, Coach Zheng insisted that Fu Jingchun, having been specifically named by Coach Fu as a doubles candidate, must perform exceptionally well to secure his spot, especially with Xia Ke, one of the top national players, now back.
Coach Zheng advised Fu Jingchun to "soldier on" for now and promised to discuss his injury with the team doctor later. Xu Tan continued his chores at the boxing gym, often finding himself called into the ring for sparring sessions. Despite his protests and concerns about his injuries, he was made to fight without protective gear. His footwork had improved significantly, but he was still no match for the much larger and more muscular boxers, often surrendering quickly.
One boxer even told him he wasn't welcome and should leave. Lei Lei, sent by Lei Cheng who was worried about Xu Tan, visited the gym. Seeing Xu Tan's injuries, she was upset and urged him, "If they hit you again, hit them back. Forget about the rules." Xu Tan, however, was realistic, pointing out, "Their arms are twice as big as mine. I'm no match for them."
Lei Lei told him not to tell Lei Cheng, who would be heartbroken. Before leaving, she gave Xu Tan a CD, telling him to keep it as motivational songs and return it once he had "won against them." The bullying at the gym continued, with one boxer rudely throwing sweaty clothes and towels at Xu Tan to wash. Despite being provoked, Xu Tan, though contemplating retaliation, did not fight back. That night, Xu Tan was stirred by sounds of punching.
He found a national boxing team member, a friend of Coach Liu, training alone. The boxer, apologetic for the noise, offered to switch to a quieter training method. Xu Tan, captivated, admitted he was interested in learning but had no one to teach him. The boxer, noting Xu Tan’s good footwork and defense, gave him some basic instructions. They discussed the differences between ping-pong and boxing.
The boxer shared that while ping-pong is a national pride, boxers were often viewed with disdain. He confessed that boxing changed him from being self-conscious to confident, making him believe he is the strongest on the ring and that he must keep punching, no matter how many times he is knocked down or how formidable the opponent.
Later, speaking with Lei Lei on the phone, Xu Tan happily reported that he finally had someone teaching him boxing, and his arms had grown stronger. He admitted he was still no match for experienced boxers but vowed to "teach him a good lesson for sure" if he ever got the chance. Xia Ke officially returned to the national team. Coach Fu arranged a match between Xia Ke and Fu Jingchun for them to get acquainted.
During the match, Xia Ke displayed incredible explosive power, quickly overpowering Fu Jingchun within the first three strokes, demonstrating his formidable strength despite his long break from formal training. Meanwhile, Liu Shi and Ma Chuan, now under Coach Qin Zhen, were subjected to an intense regimen of playing different opponents daily, consistently losing and feeling utterly defeated.
Ma Chuan voiced their frustration, asking Coach Qin if they were just perpetual training partners, to which Qin Zhen responded, urging them to improve their mindset and learn from the experience, suggesting they might one day be the ones being trained. After days of relentless defeats, Liu Shi and Ma Chuan realized the immense gap between their skill level and that of the First team.
One day, when Liu Shi twisted his ankle again during practice, Coach Qin, finding them slacking, finally allowed them to play against each other. To their surprise, they found their skills had improved significantly, particularly Liu Shi, who exhibited a newfound ability to execute quick chops, seemingly mastering it spontaneously. Coach Qin, however, quickly pointed out that these improvements came from playing against top opponents. He corrected Liu Shi's chop technique, emphasizing using footwork before the waist to prevent injury.
Recognizing Liu Shi's advantageous left-hand play and high-quality serves, Coach Qin suggested he consider focusing on a doubles career path, deeming it more promising than singles. Liu Shi, excited, eagerly asked Coach Qin to teach him some moves, even offering to buy him a drink, while playfully sparring with Ma Chuan about who was better suited for doubles.
In the countryside, Yu Kenan was gradually adjusting to rural life, even eagerly rushing to collect water when the village broadcast announced its return. However, one night, he was restless, constantly checking his phone for signal. He overheard the elderly woman scolding the little girl, who was crying because the pigs had fallen ill. Villagers suspected food poisoning, likely from forgetting to add mold removing powder.
Yu Kenan, recalling the little girl's earlier reminder that he had forgotten amidst the excitement of a call from Cai Wei, felt deep remorse. He knew these pigs were the family’s sole hope for survival. Despite the nearest vet station being over twenty miles away and no transport available at night, Yu Kenan, ignoring his own falls and injuries, trekked through the mountains in the dark, desperately seeking help.
The next morning, the grandmother and little girl, mistaking the vet for a pig thief, were startled to find him at the pigsty. The vet then revealed that Yu Kenan had "broken my door in the middle night and dragged me all the way here." Thanks to Yu Kenan's efforts, the pigs were treated in time and were recovering. Seeing Yu Kenan asleep from exhaustion, the little girl affectionately placed her small red flower on his clothes.
Feeling more at home, Yu Kenan later built a simple ping-pong table out of a stone slab and bricks, teaching the children how to play. He even playfully named the piglets after his friends and coaches: the fattest "Fatty," a silly one "Liu Shi," the long-legged one "Chun," the smallest "Xu Tan," and the big sow "Teng Biao."
Lei Lei, now studying arts, had shown considerable improvement in English and Chinese, but her math remained a weakness as she faced the upcoming college entrance exam. One day after school, her estranged mother, who had abandoned her and Lei Cheng years ago, suddenly appeared. Her mother expressed guilt and offered numerous gifts, including a new MP3 player and skincare products, along with a bank card, trying to compensate for her absence.
Lei Lei, however, firmly rejected these gestures, stating that she and Lei Cheng were doing fine and she didn't need money or gifts. She confronted her mother, saying, "Since you've abandoned us in the first place, you should stop bothering us," before walking away abruptly. Overwhelmed with emotion, Lei Lei called Xu Tan, who noticed her distress. She confided that she was "tired" from the pressures of preparing for her college entrance exam.
Xu Tan offered comfort, telling her not to put too much pressure on herself and assuring her that a "cleaner's position" would always be open for her at the boxing gym if she ever needed it. He also encouraged her to share any troubles with him directly.
