Ping Pong Episode 26 Recap
> Ping Pong Recap
Feeling like a professional training partner, Yu Kenan spent his days channeling his frustration through intense play, leaving him constantly sore. During a sparring session, he managed to defeat Nie Ruifeng, which led some to believe he was deliberately showing off. Talking with Xu Tan, Yu Kenan expressed his annoyance at playing with low intensity, fearing he would become a perpetual training partner.
Xu Tan encouraged Yu Kenan not to take things too seriously, but Yu Kenan asserted that training partners should still play with their own style, confidently stating that he would eventually become a top player and "they can just wait." Xu Tan, for his part, also admitted to performing a loop against Fang Yue once, and Yu Kenan urged him to develop his forehand, suggesting a backhand loop could become his signature move.
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) announced a new regulation, completely banning volatile organic compound (VOC) glues and mandating the use of water-based glues instead. This change caused significant issues for the team, requiring all athletes' physical data to be re-collected. More critically, every player's strength decreased, with Fang Yue's offensive capability plummeting by nearly fifty percent, from 77 PM to 42 PM. During a technical discussion, a team member suggested focusing on defensive training in response to the changes.
However, Qin Zhen offered a different perspective, emphasizing that after years of playing, he understood table tennis to be a "game of wits." He explained that victory isn't solely determined by metrics like speed and power, but rather by analyzing the opponent, adapting quickly to different situations, and controlling the rhythm of the match. As he left the meeting, Qin Zhen discreetly took two bottles of the new glue.
Xu Tan, seeing the announcement, attempted to get some of the new glue to try, but was refused because it was still undergoing testing. Later, Qin Zhen secretly gave Xu Tan the two bottles he had taken. Xu Tan and Yu Kenan tried the new glue and quickly discovered that it made the ball slower and significantly weakened its spin. Xu Tan commented that this change was beneficial for offensive players like Yu Kenan, but posed a challenge for others.
Yu Kenan, however, encouraged Xu Tan, reminding him that the quality of his loops was good, his power had increased from boxing training, and he just needed to "use his brain." Meanwhile, the selection for the P-card reserve spot was nearing. The opinions of the three main players carried more weight than even the coaches.
Mr. Zheng, keen to secure the spot for Fu Jingchun, arranged a dinner with Nie Ruifeng and Coach Wei at the Garden Restaurant, ensuring Fu Jingchun would be present. Fu Jingchun initially resisted the arrangement, citing other commitments, but Mr. Zheng insisted, telling him that "acting like you are morally better than others will not help your career as an athlete."
He stressed the importance of seizing this Olympic opportunity, as "you won't know what is going to happen in the next four years," and that a top player's opinion to Mr. Fu could sometimes be "more useful than my opinion as a personal coach." Xu Tan overheard this entire conversation. Realizing that pride alone wouldn't advance his future, Xu Tan decided to act.
He approached Fang Yue to recommend Yu Kenan for the P-card, asking Fang Yue to mention Yu Kenan to Mr. Fu if he believed in Yu Kenan's capabilities. Xu Tan explained that Mr. Zheng did not intend to give him or Yu Kenan a chance to compete for the P-card, but Yu Kenan's excellent recent form made it a shame to miss such an opportunity.
Fang Yue confirmed he already had a good impression of Yu Kenan, noting that "he plays well." He then revealed that he would have mentioned Yu Kenan anyway, as Mr. Fu encouraged the main players to help select candidates. Fang Yue then asked Xu Tan why he wasn't fighting for his own spot. Xu Tan, lacking confidence, simply replied, "I don't think I can make it," revealing his biggest hurdle on the path to becoming a champion.
During a routine training session, the ground suddenly trembled, causing water on the tables to shake. Everyone was perplexed until news channels reported a magnitude 7. 8 earthquake in Wenchuan, Sichuan. The severity of the disaster was such that even aftershocks were felt in other provinces. Liu Shi, whose hometown was Wenchuan, immediately packed his bags to return and search for his grandmother.
Xu Tan offered to accompany him, but Liu Shi declined, stating that finding his "Granny" was something he "must do even if it takes my life." He urged Xu Tan to focus on the Olympic direct tournament instead, as that was what Xu Tan "must do even if it takes your life." Despite Xu Tan's later attempts to travel to Sichuan, he faced travel restrictions due to massive military and rescue efforts.
Ultimately, Liu Shi arrived too late; his grandmother had already passed away, leaving him heartbroken. The Wenchuan earthquake plunged the entire nation into profound grief. The country mobilized all its resources for rescue and aid. With only three months remaining until the Olympics, Mr. Fu addressed the team during a minute of silence for the earthquake victims.
He acknowledged the difficult time for everyone in China but rallied them, urging them to "persevere, to fight and do our best in the competition." He declared that their greatest contribution as national ping-pong players was to secure victory at the Olympics, proclaiming to the world, "Sichuan will not fall! China will not fall!" The team, with renewed determination, chanted, "Train hard! Fight for the country!"
Amidst the national tragedy and intense training, Yu Kenan's relationship with Zhang Caiwei began to fray. During a phone call, she expressed her frustration over a recent loss and felt that he only had training on his mind, accusing him of merely calling to "complete a mission" without truly listening. She warned him that if she reached a point where she no longer wanted to share these things, "we will really have to break up."
Meanwhile, Xu Tan was gravely worried about being unable to contact Liu Shi and lashed out at Yu Kenan for not showing concern. Still reeling from his own argument with Zhang Caiwei, Yu Kenan initially snapped back at Xu Tan but later apologized, admitting that Liu Shi was his "brother as well" and he understood Xu Tan's concern. In a P-card selection meeting, Mr. Fu asked for opinions on the reserve spot.
Mr. Zheng immediately nominated Fu Jingchun, citing his fourth-place ranking behind the main players in the recent elimination rounds, making him the clear "first choice." Coach Wei, while acknowledging Fu Jingchun's merits, also spoke highly of Yu Kenan, noting his improved form and suggesting he would surpass Fu Jingchun with more match experience. Fang Yue also endorsed Yu Kenan, highlighting his "very strong" "urge to win" and his all-out effort during training, making him "something to look forward to."
Mr. Zheng countered, arguing that Yu Kenan was "too young" and lacked the mental resilience required for a reserve in such an important event. He insisted that Fu Jingchun was "more steady" and capable of "withstanding the pressure," and that the Beijing Olympics represented Fu Jingchun's "best and might also be his last chance" due to his age, while Yu Kenan had "many chances. . . in the future."
After hearing opinions from various coaches and main players, Mr. Fu initiated an anonymous vote for the P-card spot, following a suggestion from Fang Yue. With Mr. Zheng and Mr. Fu abstaining to ensure fairness, the vote resulted in a 4-4 split. Due to this tie, Mr. Fu ultimately decided that the P-card spot would be determined by a direct match between Yu Kenan and Fu Jingchun.
Excited by the opportunity, Yu Kenan told Xu Tan that he would "play a serious match" against Fu Jingchun and thanked Xu Tan for helping him secure the chance. Before the match, Yu Kenan's coach, Teng Biao, advised him to "slow down" and "learn how to use your brain." Fu Jingchun's coach encouraged him to relax and play as he normally would in training.
During the intense match, Fu Jingchun's old foot injury flared up, but he "endured" the pain and "narrowly won." After the victory, Fu Jingchun, recognizing that this Beijing Olympics might be his best and last chance, even if only as a substitute, broke down in front of Mr. Zheng, his "Master." He confessed, "I'm very pressured. I'm exhausted."
He imagined the devastating consequences if he had lost or missed the crucial final backhand, believing all their years of hard work "would've been in vain." He reaffirmed his promise to Mr. Zheng to become an Olympic champion, asking him to "wait for me for another four years" and vowing to become a top player in the next Olympics, win the "Single's gold medal and hang it on your neck."
He ended by asking, "Master, why is it so difficult to play Ping Pong?" A concluding message appeared, stating that the ITTF officially implemented the "Glue Ban" on September 1, 2008, replacing toxic, volatile organic compound glues with VOC-free, water-soluble alternatives. This change affected the paddle's elasticity and ball speed, with less impact on players who relied on power and speed, but a greater impact on those who favored spin and pips.
