Ping Pong Episode 40 Recap
> Ping Pong Recap
During an intense match against Song Min, Liu Shi suddenly realized that the formidable chop player he had admired in an old video tape was none other than his own master, Qin Zhen. Despite a severe recurrence of his lumbar injury, Liu Shi pushed through the pain, determined to finish what he considered his last game.
He grimly reflected that he wished he had met his master sooner to have more time learning from him, but now he had to say goodbye. As he struggled, collapsing to his knees multiple times, Yuan Ran's presence and encouragement, shouting "Liu Shi, go for it!" , gave him renewed strength. He fought back, delivering a final powerful chop shot. The announcer declared, "Nice shot, Liu Shi! Chop shot is the king of singles!"
Although the shot brought him victory, Liu Shi collapsed on the ground, completely exhausted. Yuan Ran rushed to his side, asking if he was okay. After the match, Liu Shi approached Yuan Ran, explaining that he hadn't prepared a grand proposal because he'd been focused on the tournament. He knelt, holding the ping-pong ball from his final game, stating that their connection was forged through ping-pong and this was his last battle on the table.
He asked, "Yuan Ran, marry me!" She was deeply moved and accepted his simple, heartfelt proposal, much to the joy of those around them. Later, Qin Zhen spoke with Liu Shi, confirming his decision to retire. Liu Shi explained that Song Min hadn't played his best, and his own lumbar injury had worsened. He believed if he went to the World Table Tennis Championships (WTTC) and encountered problems during a match, it would be a disservice to the national team.
He clarified that the moment he decided to step onto the court, even if it meant death, he had accepted this would be his final game. Qin Zhen then asked if he had any regrets, to which Liu Shi firmly replied, "No regret." Qin Zhen revealed that his former coach, Mr Fu, had said the same words to him years ago, words that Qin Zhen had resented for many years.
He thanked Liu Shi, saying Liu Shi's decision made him understand how difficult he had made things for Mr Fu back then. Liu Shi encouraged Qin Zhen to cut down on drinking, and Qin Zhen, after a moment of characteristic defiance, declared he was going to quit drinking, with Liu Shi offering a grateful "Thanks." In the training hall, Xu Tan was warming up alone when he invited Yu Kenan to play, "Let's play."
During their practice, Yu Kenan noticed that Xu Tan had an injury on his right knee. The training session made Yu Kenan realize how long it had been since he had trained purely for the love of the game. Yu Kenan's agent tried to get him to attend an event, but Yu Kenan refused, cancelling all future activities to focus on preparing for the WTTC.
He emphasized to his agent that he was aiming to be the "WTTC champion," not just a CTTSL champion, and criticized the agent for underestimating their opponents. Yu Kenan passionately spoke about Xu Tan, whom he had played with for years, describing him as a true player who never took matches lightly. He even disclosed, "Even though his right knee is injured, he's still preparing for the game." Unbeknownst to Yu Kenan, his agent was an informant for Jia Yu.
The agent quickly relayed the information about Xu Tan's knee injury to Jia Yu, confirming that Yu Kenan had "given the game away" while intoxicated. Jia Yu immediately called someone, instructing them to inform the coach of Team Shanghai to have Song Min target Xu Tan's right side during their upcoming match. He explicitly told them not to let Song Min realize the true intention, but to present it as a strategic tactic.
Xu Tan’s knee injury continued to bother him. Yuan Ran, while massaging his knee, urged him to get an X-ray to assess the severity, stressing that it wasn't a minor issue. Xu Tan, however, insisted on keeping the injury a secret. Yuan Ran expressed concern that he would collapse before the WTTC even began, but he countered that she herself had played with an injury.
Yuan Ran clarified that her match was her last, while Xu Tan's journey was just beginning. As Yuan Ran left, she reminded Liu Shi, who was also present, to apply a hot compress on Xu Tan’s knee later. During the final round of the 2015 Chinese Table Tennis Super League, the commentator announced the highly anticipated match between the world number one, Xu Tan, and Shanghai Thunder Club's young talent, Song Min. Despite his injury, Xu Tan initially played well.
During a break, Song Min's coach criticized his performance, reminding him of the pre-arranged tactic to "manoeuvre him from left and right." Song Min argued that Xu Tan had already figured out his strategy. However, the coach insisted, reassuring Song Min that the tactic was working and to stick to it for the next round. Following these instructions, Song Min repeatedly targeted Xu Tan’s right side, forcing him into strenuous lateral movements.
Xu Tan's injured right knee ultimately gave way, causing him to fall to the ground. At the hospital, Fang Yue admonished Xu Tan for not disclosing his knee injury earlier, mentioning that Song Min had been shaken by his collapse and was waiting outside to apologize. Lei Cheng arrived, concerned.
The doctor explained that Xu Tan had a partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament and, while he could be back on his feet in two weeks, continued training or playing could worsen the injury. Therefore, surgery to fully recover from the knee injury was recommended, which would require about six months of rehabilitation. Xu Tan dismissed the severity, focusing only on the WTTC.
Lei Cheng argued that risking his health for the rest of his life for one WTTC was not worth it, deeming the risk too high. But Xu Tan was resolute, stating, "I must play the game." Lei Cheng, frustrated by Xu Tan's refusal to listen, pondered aloud what he would tell Xu Tan's parents, feeling responsible for him. Later that night, Lei Lei discovered Xu Tan trying to get water from his wheelchair.
She had taken over from Lei Cheng, who was too weak to stay up late. Lei Lei questioned why Xu Tan was so against the surgery. Xu Tan explained that if he were still in his teens, he would accept it, but at the "end of my career," and "at my best," he had to endure any hardship. He emphasized that the WTTC and Olympics were his "last chance," and undergoing surgery would mean saying "goodbye to ping-pong."
He wanted to end his career on the court, having one last spirited match against the opponent he most wanted to defeat, stating, "That's worth it." Lei Lei acknowledged that they couldn't change his mind and urged him to think it through for himself. The next day, Liu Shi, Ma Chuan, Su Shun, and Wu Kai arrived at the hospital to visit Xu Tan.
Before entering, Liu Shi advised his teammates to be mindful of their words, noting that Xu Tan was likely in a foul mood. He also observed that Song Min dared not show his face due to the incident. Inside, Liu Shi commented on Xu Tan's agility in his wheelchair. He relayed that Song Min couldn't come because he had a game but sent his regards.
Liu Shi urged Xu Tan to follow the doctor's advice and rest, criticizing him for being disobedient. Su Shun presented a gift from the team, wishing Xu Tan a speedy recovery. Ma Chuan added that a larger gift was from Yu Kenan, explaining that Yu Kenan was busy but cared deeply, having asked about Xu Tan's injury the day before. Xu Tan, however, seemed unfazed by Yu Kenan's absence, simply stating, "It's okay. I'll leave him to it."
