33 Tokyo Direct Tournament ④

◎【2nd update】The World Games, the National Table Tennis Championships, and the World Championships are known as the Grand Slam.◎

The final day of the direct tournament, afternoon competition.

Maomao defeated Chang Hongxia with a big score of [3:2].

The changes in rankings are no longer meaningful.

The top six spots are already locked in.

Zhu Qi, Maomao, Chang Hongxia, Jin Lili, Ding Shushu, and A Shui.

——The direct competition is over.

But that doesn't mean athletes can relax.

Because there is the Asian Cup afterwards, and the Asian Championships will follow right after the Asian Cup.

Because this year is the year of the Tokyo World Games, all national team members will not be given any vacation.

What a coincidence.

Zhu Qi joined the national team at the age of fifteen and did not have a Spring Festival holiday. The following year he caught up with the World Friendship Table Tennis Tournament, and the third year was the World Games year.

She hasn't been home for more than two years.

After she turned seventeen, her body began to grow rapidly like bamboo shoots after rain.

All the team uniforms have been changed to new sizes, and none of the previous ones can be worn anymore.

Xu Dongxin measured her size, reported it, and waited for the new team uniform to be distributed.

Sometimes when I look at myself in the mirror, I feel a sense of strangeness.

She vaguely remembered that she was only 1.6 meters tall when she was 17 years old in her previous life, but now she is 5 centimeters taller than before. Maybe she is one of the 15-year-olds whose growth plates have not closed yet.

Maybe it’s because he joined the national team, so he eats well, sleeps well every day, and eats high-protein food, plus he keeps up with the amount of exercise.

Xu Dong came over with a stack of new uniforms and tried them on Zhu Qi one by one, sighing, "Wow, you've grown taller and your body seems to have tightened. When you first came here, you were only up to my shoulders."

Zhu Qi shook off his clothes.

The material of the national team's uniforms has also changed this year.

It is lighter, more breathable and more comfortable to wear.

I guess it’s the year of world prosperity, and we need to use the best in all aspects.

The champion of the Asian Championships is Maomao and the runner-up is her.

At the beginning of this year, she was the champion of the Asian Cup, the runner-up was a Belarusian player, and Maomao was the third place.

Ren Xinhua even joked to the media at the time, "This is the most intense 'companion star' showdown in our women's table tennis team. I think their presence is a blessing for both of them, allowing them to forge ahead on the competitive path and keep each other in check. Winning and losing is perfectly normal in competitions of the same level. I hope they can continue to be rivals on the table and friends off it in future GTT matches."

Since the Pingpong League has been developing rapidly in China, the International Table Tennis Federation has seen the commercial value of table tennis matches and spontaneously organized a Global Table Tennis Alliance (GTT) series of events.

I hope that table tennis can become a large-scale commercial event like tennis, to promote the development of table tennis's global audience.

Any active table tennis player can participate, but the GTT series is divided into five levels.

The fifth and lowest level is the Qingyun Challenge

Level 4 - White Star Challenge

The third level is the Yellow Moon Challenge

The second level is the Jinyang Challenge

Highest Level - Peak Battle

In the GTT series, whether it is singles, doubles or mixed doubles, there are only champions and runners-up. Everyone must start from the Qingyun Challenge Tournament, and only those who reach the top eight are eligible to register for the next level.

Just like a new moba e-sports game that emerged many years later, the levels are strictly divided, and the higher you go, the more masters you will encounter.

Competition venues will be set up around the world every month.

But the peak battle only happens once a year.

The intensive competitions encourage table tennis enthusiasts around the world to actively participate, allowing many countries with weak table tennis skills to use the method of "training through competition" to promote the growth of their own players.

Once this event was launched, it did play a role in promoting the development of table tennis.

Some small countries with limited economic capabilities have also recommended some athletes, with participation being the key.

Zhu Qi won three championships and two runner-up titles for the Chinese team in the five singles GTT events.

During the peak battle, he met his old rival, Li Keshan.

This time the game ended faster, and Zhu Qi quickly won [4:1].

During the last game, Xu Dong was so happy that he felt there was no need to arrange any tactics while sitting in the coaching seat.

This Li Keshan is easier to beat than he was two years ago. Why hasn't he improved?

After the finals, Ah Shui said gossipingly, "Li Keshan cried after playing with you."

"...Not really. She doesn't need to serve in the military even if she loses the game." Zhu Qi.

Ah Shui, having heard the news from somewhere, shared it with Zhu Qi mysteriously, "Li Keshan faced you twice, both times in the finals and lost. I heard that South Korea thinks China might let you play singles, and they're afraid you'll outperform her again, so they won't give her a spot in the World Games singles competition. That's why she's crying."

"..." Zhu Qi.

Why does everyone think they are a perfect singles player?

To be honest.

After all, I was a coach in my previous life.

Although I am just a small club coach, I can occasionally think about the allocation of the roster from a coach's perspective.

Now the Asian Championships and Asian Cup are over.

However, the list for the World Games has not been released yet. I heard that the coaching staff has discussed it several times but has not yet finalized it and announced it. It is very likely that the coaches have not reached a consensus.

Zhu Qi had a premonition.

The point where they cannot reach a consensus may be who should be given the two places in the women's singles.

In the past two years, Xu Dong has put almost all his energy on Zhu Qi. He accompanied Zhu Qi throughout the Asian Cup and Asian Championships.

The World Games, the National Table Tennis Championships and the World Championships are called the Grand Slams.

The Asian Championships, Asian Cup, GTT Peak Challenge and three major events are called the Grand Slam.

At this point, Zhu Qi's Grand Slam puzzle still lacks the World Games, the National Table Tennis Championships, and the Asian Championships.

Zhu Qi wants to win the Grand Slam and the Grand Slam.

Xu Dong wants to bring out a Grand Slam, a complete Grand Slam.

Zhu Qi hasn't been home for more than two years, and Xu Dong hasn't been home for more than two years either.

The two of them have the same goal and work together for it.

If I can't compete in the singles event at the Tokyo World Games, then the next chance will be the National Table Tennis Championships in November at the end of next year.

In fact, apart from team competition, Zhu Qi thinks it would be nice to play doubles.

Because when the team registers, there are four people on each male and female team, but in the actual competition, only three people can play.

Plus the first men's doubles, the second women's doubles, the third men's singles... and the fourth women's singles.

If the teammates perform well and win the first three games, then the women's singles player will have no chance to play in the fourth game!

But doubles is different.

The doubles and singles events at the World Games can be played for a full week.

Xu Dong was also anxious but still tried to comfort her: "I have discussed it with the chairman, and you will definitely be able to 'get on the train'. As for which position you will be in, the coaches will definitely consider it carefully based on your abilities."

Zhu Qi knew Xu Dong was trying to comfort him, so he didn't show any particular anxiety. He said calmly, "It's okay. No matter what you ask me to do, I'll follow your instructions."

The twelve-year dark curse of Chinese table tennis seems to have been broken.

At least in the Tokyo cycle, the Chinese team won many championships.

Zhu Qi accounted for more than half.

And her name spread from Asia to Europe like a raging fire.

The twelve players selected last year are anxious, and their head coaches are also very anxious.

What's going on?

Why haven't you decided on the competition roster yet?

I'm going to Tokyo in August.

If the list is not released, how can we carry out closed and targeted training?

What are Lao Ren and the head coaches of the two teams doing?

In the conference room, both sides were filled with coaches.

Everyone stared at Ren Xinhua in the middle, and no one dared to speak first.

After a long while, the Buddha was the first to speak: "Our preliminary list has come out, and the details still need your review."

Ren Xinhua looked down at the rosters handed over by the head coaches of the women's and men's teams. There were no problems with the men's team, but the women's team...

The other parts are basically confirmed, but the women's doubles and mixed doubles are empty.

In response, Foye explained: "Our men's and women's teams had a discussion, and no one was sure about it."

Ren Xinhua said "hmm", picked up the chalk next to him, turned around and walked to the blackboard facing everyone, and wrote down three sets of mixed doubles candidates.

Jin Lili/Lu Yaohan

Chang Hongxia/Gao Xiaofeng...

As well as Zhu Qi and Song Linzhou.

Xu Dong sat up slightly straighter, his heart beat a few times faster, full of anticipation.

This has exceeded Xu Dong's expectations for Zhu Qi.

After all, a mixed team still needs to arrange its troops and the roster is not fixed for each competition.

Even if you get a spot in a mixed group, you may not necessarily have the chance to play.

But mixed doubles is different.

It's a real competition.

As long as I can get a ranking, why worry about not having singles in the next session?

Since the end of the direct-qualifying tournament last year, she has accompanied Zhu Qi to play in the Asian Championships, Asian Cup and GTT peak battle.

Zhu Qi's grasp of the game and his ability to adjust himself are already very mature.

She believed that Zhu Qi could withstand the pressure of the World Games.

Ren Xinhua got straight to the point: "Since you're all so arguing, let me first tell you who I have in mind. Do you have anything else to add?"

The coaches of the women's team looked at each other and shook their heads.

Ren Xinhua sat back down and tapped the table. "Ding Shushu, though her form improved in the Asian Cup and Asian Championships, is still a bit behind Maomao and Chang Hongxia. Maomao's shoulder injury has been a problem, and she can't juggle too many events, so she's out of consideration."

Foye nodded, agreeing with Ren Xinhua's assessment, and added, "As for Ah Shui, he's a dark horse in the direct-through tournament. Although he performed well in the direct-through tournament, that was just above average performance. It's impossible for him to participate in the World Games. He can only serve as a sparring partner."

The situation seems clear now, but in fact it is still very complicated.

Chang Hongxia and Gao Xiaofeng are the captains of the men's and women's teams. They are also the most experienced players in the team and have participated in many World Games.

These two people are actually the best choices for mixed doubles.

But... in the past two years, Zhu Qi's performance has been outstanding.

Even Song Linzhou, a straight-blade player who has always been looked down upon, has achieved many results.

As the head coach of the women's team, Foye spoke first: "First of all, I think Chang Hongxia and Gao Xiaofeng are more suitable. Although Zhu Qi performed well in the GTT and the Asian Cup, the World Games is, after all, the world's most watched competition. She is only 17 years old. Can she withstand such great pressure?"

"I don't think so," another women's team coach chimed in. "Chang Hongxia didn't perform well in the Asian Cup, losing to the new Japanese player. I think the Japanese team is planning to play that new player in singles this time. Zhu Qi is the only one on our team who knows how to play against the Japanese."

"Actually, I recommend Chang Hongxia because she's participated in two World Games and won three World Championships. She's very familiar with these kinds of competitions and has a stronger ability to withstand pressure. Losing to that Japanese player isn't a big deal. Doesn't Zhu Qi understand the Japanese style well? She could imitate Hara Xiang's style and serve as a sparring partner for Chang Hongxia..."

Xu Dong immediately became furious upon hearing this: "The World Games are approaching. As the absolute main force of this competition, how can I imitate others' playing style at this time? What if my own technical and tactical system is messed up?!"

As a newcomer to the coaching staff, Xu Dong was obedient to all arrangements made by the team, but whenever Zhu Qi's competition was mentioned, he would try his best to get it.

"I didn't say Zhu Qi should be Chang Hongxia's sparring partner forever. I just wanted her to imitate her temporarily... And didn't you all say she's a quick learner? Wouldn't it be great if she could incorporate Yuan Xiang's fighting style into her own?"

"I absolutely disagree with letting Baobao be a sparring partner!" Xu Dong retorted unhappily. "If she's not allowed to play women's doubles or mixed doubles, she'll definitely have a spot on the mixed team. She's already too busy practicing on her own, so how could she possibly be a sparring partner for someone else?"

Seeing that Xu Dong, who was usually good-tempered, got angry, the others also stopped talking.

Ren Xinhua was waiting for Xu Dong to say this. She asked, "Who do you think Bao Bao would be a better doubles teammate with?"

Xu Dong thought carefully for a while, and after thinking of all the suitable candidates at the moment, he said, "As for women's doubles, Ah Shui and I actually have the best synergy, but Ah Shui lacks competition experience and tends to falter when it comes to match points. The next best option is Maomao, but if Maomao is confirmed to play women's singles, won't the schedule be too tight for women's doubles? Next up is Ding Shushu, but Ding Shushu and Zhu Qi have never played women's doubles together before, so it's too late to start now..."

Not to mention Jin Lili, it's even more impossible.

What Ren Xinhua likes most about Xu Dong is that he doesn't just consider his own team members, but also considers issues from the perspectives of other team members. After listening to Xu Dong's words, she nodded and asked, "What about mixed doubles?"

When the other coaches heard the word "mixed doubles", they all looked relieved.

Mixed doubles.

This is the first competition to start in the table tennis group of the World Games!

It is natural to play well, but fame can easily be overshadowed by subsequent singles and group performances.

If they don't play well, they will be the first to be blamed. If they don't play well in singles and team events later, most of the tension will be taken away by the mixed doubles defeat.

It's a thankless project.

Moreover, as this was the first time for the competition to be held in the World Games, no one was sure what kind of mixed doubles lineup the foreign association would put together, nor did they understand the opponent's tactical style of play.

They also have selfish motives and don't want their players to play mixed doubles.

very good.

If Baobao is good at beating people, then let him beat them.

Xu Dong's face darkened.

She didn't object to Zhu Qi playing mixed doubles, but she felt that these old-timers only knew how to take advantage of what was available.

His heart is smaller than a needle's eye.

Xu Dong then frankly admitted, "Baobao's playing style is quite aggressive. When we first started practicing mixed doubles, we used a double attack tactic. If we were to play mixed doubles, the male players would need to adapt to her rhythm, and she wasn't used to other coaches' techniques and tactics."

In other words.

If Zhu Qi must play doubles or mixed doubles, she may not necessarily listen to the instructions of other coaches.

Seeing that others were still chattering about the candidates for the women's singles, Ren Xinhua first wrote down Zu Tianjiao's name on a piece of white paper, and then wrote down Chang Hongxia and Zhu Qi respectively.

Afterwards, Ren Xinhua looked at the last two names and fell into deep thought...

【Author’s words】

The World Games competition system has a lot of fictional elements. In reality, the women's team and the men's team are separated. This article adopts a mixed team system with a lot of private settings.

Competition Rules:

First match: Men's doubles

Second match: Women's doubles

Match 3: Men's Singles

Match 4: Women's Singles

Match 5: Mixed Doubles

The best-of-five format is used, with each match played out in a best-of-five format. If one side wins both the first and second matches, the weaker side can adjust the order of play for the third match, meaning they can directly play the women's singles or mixed doubles match.

Each country sends three men and three women to participate in the competition. After playing women's doubles/men's doubles, they cannot play women's singles/men's singles again. However, after playing women's singles/men's singles and women's doubles/men's doubles, they can play a fifth mixed doubles match.

For example:

First match: Women's doubles - Xiaohong and Xiaolan

Match 2: Men's Doubles - Xiao Lu and Xiao Zi

Match 3: Women's Singles - Xiaobai

Match 4: Men's Singles - Xiaoqing

Match 5: Mixed Doubles - Xiaohong and Xiaoqing

Xiaohong and Xiaolan cannot participate in the third women's singles match, and the third registered person Xiaobai must play the women's singles match. However, Xiaohong, Xiaolan and Xiaobai can all participate in the fifth mixed doubles match.

In order to increase the viewing experience of the game, the roster for each game will be different, one game per day, and the team coach will submit the roster for tomorrow's game to the referee team on the second evening.