Ping Pong Episode 42 Recap
> Ping Pong Recap
During a pre-tournament press conference, the team announced the roster for the World Table Tennis Championships, including Xu Tan, Yu Kenan, Ma Chuan, Leng Yi, and Song Min. Coach Fu Jingchun explained the strategic combination of experienced veterans and a promising newcomer to counter international players and nurture future talent.
Coach Teng Biao, when asked about his two former disciples, Xu Tan and Yu Kenan, lauded their immense dedication throughout their careers and expressed his hope that they would deliver their best performance in the upcoming competition. A reporter pressed Yu Kenan about rumors regarding his withdrawal from the German Open, suggesting he feared a direct confrontation with Xu Tan before the WTTC. Yu Kenan declined to comment.
When asked about the pressure of defending his title as a reigning champion and Grand Slam winner, Yu Kenan calmly stated that the WTTC posed stress for every participant, not just him. Meanwhile, Xu Tan, questioned about his knee injury, affirmed his recovery and sarcastically commented that his greatest concern when facing Yu Kenan was that Yu Kenan's powerful attacks might once again deliberately injure his knee, implying past unethical actions.
This jab deeply angered Yu Kenan, who clearly understood it as an accusation and confronted Xu Tan, demanding an explanation. Unknown to others, Xu Tan had gradually been influenced by Yu Kenan, becoming like him, with nothing but winning in his heart. A coach quickly intervened, ending the press conference prematurely and directing the players to return to training to cool down.
Backstage, Yu Kenan accused Xu Tan of mocking him, reiterating that he had fulfilled all his promises, including replacing Zheng Hao, and therefore owed Xu Tan nothing. Teng Biao intervened, reminding Yu Kenan of the public setting and trying to calm him. He advised Yu Kenan that attention and scrutiny are normal for athletes and essential to becoming a true national champion, and that he should focus on himself rather than what the media writes.
Yu Kenan expressed frustration that people wanted to see him lose and forget his Grand Slam status, only remembering his decline. The team leadership then held a meeting regarding Xu Tan's and Yu Kenan's inappropriate remarks. Coach Teng Biao apologized on Xu Tan's behalf, acknowledging that Xu Tan, as team captain, had made an ill-fitting joke, created a negative impression on the media, and set a poor example.
Another coach apologized for Yu Kenan's overreaction, which had tarnished the team's image. The head coach emphasized the need for unity against strong international opponents like Germany and Japan. As a consequence, Xu Tan and Yu Kenan were required to submit reflective essays and were prohibited from speaking to the media before the WTTC. The 53rd Suzhou World Table Tennis Championships in 2015, hosted by the ITTF, was a highly anticipated event.
This marked the fifth time China had hosted the tournament. Over 1,300 athletes, coaches, and officials from 134 countries were set to compete from April 26th to May 3rd at the Suzhou International Expo Centre. The venue itself was the largest and most advanced in WTTC history.
The tournament was expected to feature the strongest lineup of players in a decade, including top international stars like Fassbender of Germany, Koke of Spain, Demark of Sweden, Liu Benzhi, Nanno Shuichi, and Kangdao Jie of Japan, and Kim Seung-woo and Park Ji-min of South Korea, as well as China's "dream team," notably the "twin stars" Yu Kenan, a two-time champion, and Xu Tan, the world's number one ranked player and team captain.
The day before the final, Lei Lei called Xu Tan on the phone, encouraging him to perform well and not succumb to pressure, expressing her anticipation for his victory. Xu Tan also recalled his coach, Fang Yue's, advice to always remember the intense desire to win if he aimed for a World Champion title and a Grand Slam. In the semi-finals, Xu Tan swiftly defeated Song Min, securing his spot in the final.
Simultaneously, Yu Kenan overcame Japanese player Kangdao Jie, setting the stage for the highly anticipated "battle of the century" between the two "twin stars." Their massive fan bases had eagerly awaited this showdown, and tickets for the final sold out instantly, setting a new record. Just ten minutes before the final was to commence, Coach Fang Yue reminded Xu Tan to be ready.
A live broadcast revealed surprising news: Yu Kenan's coach, Teng Biao, would be absent, a rare occurrence that raised questions about its potential impact on Yu Kenan's performance. Meanwhile, Teng Biao arrived at a private box where Lei Cheng was already waiting. Teng Biao commented that Lei Cheng's gesture of sending him a specific racket had compelled his presence.
After Lei Cheng offered him some Biluochun tea from before the Qingming Festival, he challenged Teng Biao to a game of chess. Lei Cheng proposed that if he won, Teng Biao would owe him a favor, but if he lost, nothing. Despite Lei Cheng’s decades-long losing streak against him, Teng Biao agreed to the gamble. As their chess game began, Xu Tan and Yu Kenan walked onto the main court, greeted by thunderous cheers from their respective fan groups.
Commentators highlighted Xu Tan's strong forehand and strategic mind, contrasting it with Yu Kenan's powerful first three strokes and signature backhand banana flip, declaring it a clash between the "strongest spear" and the "strongest shield." The first game started with Xu Tan taking the lead early. He employed an aggressive, strong first three stroke strategy, quickly getting into an excited state, which Lei Cheng observed as a brilliant "driving straight into the enemy's den" approach.
However, Lei Cheng also cautioned that Yu Kenan was a formidable opponent. Despite Xu Tan's intense offense, Yu Kenan, patiently defending, managed to take the first game, leading commentators to note that the "spear" and "shield" seemed to have swapped roles. Lei Cheng remarked that he wasn't the only one whose style of playing had changed.
During the break, commentators discussed the impact of the new 40+ plastic ping pong balls, noting how their different properties—compared to traditional celluloid balls—demanded increased power from players, which in turn heightened the risk of injuries to muscles, bones, and soft tissues. This was particularly pertinent given Xu Tan's existing knee injury. Fang Yue confronted Xu Tan in the locker room, questioning why he deviated from their pre-game strategy by engaging Yu Kenan in a first three-stroke battle.
Fang Yue knew Xu Tan wanted to prove himself but stressed that only winning mattered and that defiant actions were futile. Xu Tan acknowledged his words. In the second game, Xu Tan demonstrated remarkable adaptability. He executed a chop shot, combined offense and defense, and even used a bounce attack, reminiscent of Liu Shi, a former national team chopper. Commentators called this a "secret weapon."
Teng Biao observed that this tactic was precisely what Coach Zheng Hao had once instructed Fu Jingchun to use against Yu Kenan. Xu Tan consistently attacked Yu Kenan's backhand, strategically controlling the game by changing the ball's trajectory, showcasing his profound understanding of his opponents' strengths and weaknesses. Lei Cheng noted the difficulty in mastering diverse techniques, even if learning them was beneficial.
Yu Kenan, a Grand Slam athlete, despite being initially caught off guard, swiftly adjusted his tactics, demonstrating his extensive experience and world-class skill. He continued his powerful attacks, earning praise for his splendid play. Xu Tan lost the second game, and commentators highlighted Yu Kenan's potential to become China's third triple men's singles champion if he secured one more game.
Xu Tan, however, continued his relentless assault on Yu Kenan's backhand in the fourth game, after having used the first three games as probes. This strategy yielded results, as Yu Kenan, usually strong with his backhand, made uncharacteristic errors. Xu Tan capitalized on these mistakes, winning the fourth game 11-6 and saving a match point. Lei Cheng observed Xu Tan's composed and thoughtful strategy, likening his earlier losses to "decoys" in chess, designed to set up his true intentions.
He mused that Xu Tan's ability to maintain such a complex plan was a testament to his mental fortitude, truly a disciple of his own calculated approach. Xu Tan then continued his winning streak, securing the fifth game "under impossible circumstances" and "after some hardships." Teng Biao inferred that Xu Tan must have meticulously analyzed Yu Kenan's past three years of matches, noting subtle changes in his backhand to formulate his current strategy of consistent backhand attacks.
Lei Cheng, contemplating his own chess game, remarked that one wrong move could unravel everything, adding that a player cannot blame an opponent who has clearly put in more effort. As the sixth game began, with Xu Tan having remarkably recovered from a 0-3 deficit to 2-3, the tension was palpable. During a continuous exchange of backhand flicks and loops, Yu Kenan suddenly collapsed on the court, clutching his right shoulder in obvious pain.
Commentators expressed concern, unsure of what had happened. Teng Biao revealed that Yu Kenan's backhand issues stemmed from a severe, long-standing shoulder injury, which he believed even Xu Tan might not have known the extent of. Yu Kenan requested a short pause, which the main judge, Mr. Malpoc, granted after checking his paddle. It was clear that the repeated backhand shots had severely aggravated Yu Kenan's shoulder, casting doubt on his ability to continue the match.
In the private box, Teng Biao asked Lei Cheng if he still wished to continue their chess game. Lei Cheng responded, "We have to finish this chess game," adding, "It's a deeply considered strategy. . . If I can't do it, you can. But I hold the advantage, and even if it's a losing proposition, I dare to go for it."
